Cultural highlights 2008

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

JANUARY

II Tallinn Winter Festival
Artistic director Pille Lill.
December 27, 2007 – January 12, 2008
Organiser: Pille Lill Music Fund
+372 511 4077, plmf@plmf.ee, www.plmf.ee

FEBRUARY

Ballet premiere: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
One of the most well-known Hungarian choreographers and stage directors Gyula Harangozo, and popular Hungarian designer Kentaur, stage an unbelievably cheerful and dashing family ballet at the Estonian National Opera. Music by Tibor Kocsak.
February 1
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

Baroque Music Festival
The 19th International Baroque Festival will present numerous high-quality concerts and inspired interpretations during 10 days of crisp February weather. This year, the festival takes the listeners’ wish to participate seriously and delves deeper with portrait concerts of the famous Baroque composers (Vivaldi, Couperin, C. Ph. E. Bach, J. S. Bach), balanced with excellent musical performances.
February 1–9
Organiser: Eesti Kontsert
+372 614 7700, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee

Jazz Triumph Festival: Oleg Lundstrem’s jazz chamber orchestra
Oleg Lundstrem’s state jazz chamber orchestra is the longest running big band in the world, as testified even in the Guinness book of records. The credo of the orchestra is to dive into the very being of jazz music and its classical traditions, although the group also tries to contribute to the development of jazz as a genre through performing original pieces and arrangements.
February 10
Organiser: Art Music Concert Agency
+372 641 2155, art@artmusic.ee, www.artmusic.ee

Festival "Estonian Theatre in the Estonia"
The National Opera celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia with the festival "Estonian theatre in the Estonia". Seven original Estonian shows will be performed.
February 13–23
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

MARCH

10th Estonian Film Days
National film festival.
March 14–20
Organiser: Estonian Film Union
+372 646 4068, kinoliit@kinoliit.ee, www.kinoliit.ee

Concert performance: Simon Boccanegra
Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful melodies illustrate one of the greatest tales of intrigue in which love, the thirst for power, and dark forces intertwine with humanity, forgiveness and conciliation. "Simon Boccanegra" was an important step in Verdi’s compositional style toward musical drama, of which "A Masked Ball", "The Force of Destination", "Don Carlo", "Aida" and "Othello" are good examples.
March 15
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

APRIL

Musical premiere: My Fair Lady
Frederick Loewe’s musical "My Fair Lady", based on Bernard Shaw’s witty play Pygmalion, will premiere at the Estonian National Opera. The most popular show in American musical history has been staged countless times worldwide, and it was turned into a popular film in 1964 with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison in title roles.
April 3
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

19th International Festival Jazzkaar
The annual Jazzkaar Festival has become one of the most important cultural landmarks in Estonia and the biggest jazz festival in the Baltic States - concerts are held in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi and other cities. International stars and local jazz talents represent various styles.
April 16–27
Organiser: Jazzkaar Festivalid
+372 611 4405, piletid@jazzkaar.ee, www.jazzkaar.ee

St. George´s Day Fair
Handicrafts and farm goods sold on the streets of Old Town.
April 18–19
Organiser: Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union
+372 660 4772, info@folkart.ee, www.folkart.ee

Ballet Gala, international dance day
Ballet soloists of the Estonian National Opera perform with guest performers from Finland, Sweden, Germany and Latvia.
April 29 and May 3
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

MAY

Opera premiere: Tristan and Isolde
Richard Wagner became one of the greatest reformers in the history of opera, thanks to his brave but contradictory ideas. "Tristan and Isolde", a beautiful example of the new form of music drama, premiered in 1865 in Hoftheater, Munich. Since its premiere, the opera has had great success and is included in the repertory of many opera theatres. This performance will only be shown on four weekends.
May 17, 24 and 31, June 7
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

JUNE

27th Old Town Days
The streets of Tallinn Old Town are filled with minstrels and craftsmen, artists, merchants and street markets.
June 2–8
Organiser: City Centre Administration
+372 645 7220, info@vanalinnapaevad.ee, www.vanalintiitpeterson@hot.eenapaevad.ee

Folk Art Fair
Handicrafts, by both adults and children, and farm goods sold on the streets of Old Town.
June 13–15
Organiser: Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union
+372 660 4772, info@folkart.ee, www.folkart.ee

JULY

Õllesummer
Õllesummer (BeerSummer), the open-air festival of music, entertainment, food and beverages, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2008 at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. One of the biggest festivals in the Baltic States and Scandinavia, it attracts more than 80 thousand visitors of all ages every year. Over 400 artists attend the festival, with a wide choice of high quality concerts of Estonian pop, folk music, jazz and a selection of international music and artists.
July 2–6
Organiser: Meediaekspress OÜ
+372 611 2112, info@ollesummer.ee, www.ollesummer.ee

Medieval Market in Old Town
An authentic medieval atmosphere created by concerts, workshops, activities for children and handicrafts sales. The skills of ancient masters are brought to life and nobles, musicians, and fools roam among the market stalls.
July 10–13
Organiser: Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union
+372 660 4772, info@folkart.ee, www.folkart.ee

AUGUST

22nd International Organ Music Festival
Artistic director Andres Uibo.
August 1–10
Organiser: Eesti Kontsert
+372 614 7700, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee

Birgitta Festival
A unique festival program featuring work steeped in the spirit of the setting at the medieval convent (including operas, vocal-symphonic masterworks and more).
August 8–17
Organiser: Tallinn Philharmonic Society
+372 669 9940, fila@filharmoonia.ee, www.filharmoonia.ee, www.birgitta.ee

Tallinn Chamber Music Festival
The Festival takes place in the historic concert halls and churches of Tallinn and adds some classical spice to the busy cultural life in the city.
August 18–23
Organiser: Pille Lill Music Fund
+372 511 4077, plmf@plmf.ee, www.plmf.ee

SEPTEMBER

15th International Festival of Sacred Music "Credo"
An Orthodox ecclesiastical music festival dedicated to the birthday of the Virgin Mary, with both old and modern music in various churches.
September
Organiser: Viivo Muusika MTÜ
+372 513 2213, zoya@viivomuusika.ee, www.festivalcredo.com

Arts and Lights
Cultural layers and artistic genres cover the city in patterns of events, creating surprising combinations of art and light in unexpected places.
September 26–28
Organisers: Consultor MTÜ, Design Management OÜ
+372 646 4145, leart@estpak.ee, www.edl.ee

OCTOBER

Opera premiere: Nina Gluckstein
World premiere of an Estonian opera by Mari Vihmand, libretto by Maimu Berg.
October 17
Organiser: Estonian National Opera
+372 683 1260, info@opera.ee, www.opera.ee

International Pianists’ Festival "Klaver 2008"
Artistic director Lauri Väinmaa.
October 24–31
Organiser: Eesti Kontsert
+372 614 7700, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee

NOVEMBER

St. Martin´s Day Fair in Saku Suurhall
National handicraft workshops and sales accompanied by traditional culinary delights, folk music and Martinmas costumes.
November 6–9
Organiser: Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union
+372 660 4772, info@folkart.ee, www.folkart.ee

12th Black Nights Film Festival
Tallinn’s largest film festival presents a comprehensive selection of world cinema in all its diversity. It encompasses a main feature film festival, with sub-festivals for animated films, student films and children’s/youth films.
November 13 – December 7
Organiser: PÖFF MTÜ
+372 631 4640, poff@poff.ee, www.poff.ee

DECEMBER

New Year’s Eve concert
December 31
Organiser: Eesti Kontsert
+372 614 7700, info@concert.ee, www.concert.ee