PÄRNU MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023
For ten days from 11 to 21 July Estonia’s summer capital will be filled with the buzz and love of music-making. The 2023 Pärnu Music Festival brings legendary violinist and violist Pinchas Zukerman to Estonia and Neeme Järvi will conduct the festival’s opening concert. Paavo Järvi leads the Estonian Festival Orchestra in four concerts and Kristjan Järvi returns with the Baltic Sea Philharmonic.
“Every year, world-famous soloists have surprised Pärnu’s audiences, and they’ll do it again this summer. Although the programme is traditionally revealed in Spring, we are delighted to already announce the first arrivals to the Pärnu Music Festival,” says Kristjan Hallik, the festival’s CEO.
Pinchas Zukerman, the world-renowned violinist and violist, and a legend of concert halls for more than 50 years, is one of four top soloists who will perform on the Pärnu stage with the Estonian Festival Orchestra (EFO) and conductor Paavo Järvi. The EFO will have busy days ahead, as they will perform for home audiences for a total of four nights.
Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic return to the stage this summer, following their hugely success performance at last year’s festival. Audiences can expect another uplifting concert experience that goes beyond the boundaries of classical music.
The festival kicks off on 12 July with the opening concert led by maestro Neeme Järvi at the Pärnu Concert Hall, which will remain the central venue for the following days. Neeme Järvi’s return to the festival in 2022 after an absence of several years was an emotional reunion and we are delighted that he returns again this summer.
In addition to 10 concerts, the Pärnu Music Festival also includes the Järvi Academy and master classes for young musicians and conductors, led by Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Kristjan Järvi and leading guest instrumentalists. Registration and receipt of applications will start in the new year. Also, for the third summer in a row, you can catch the Pärnu Concert Hall’s music events via Pärnu Music Festival TV.
The Pärnu Music Festival is one of the most renowned international classical music festivals in Estonia, combining the Järvi Academy and workshops for young musicians. With the Estonian Festival Orchestra, Paavo Järvi has created a top class resident ensemble which has also toured throughout Asia and Europe, making history as the first Estonian orchestra to perform at the BBC Proms in London.
Järvi Academy in Arvo Pärt Centre
Tuesday, 11 July 2023 13:00, Arvo Pärt Centre
Participants of Järvi Academy
Järvi Academy Sinfonietta
Theodor Sink (cello)
PROGRAMME: Pärt, Tüür, Grigorjeva
Järvi Academy in Tallinn
Tuesday, 11 July 2023 20:00, St. John’s Church, Tallinn
Participants of Järvi Academy
Järvi Academy Sinfonietta
Theodor Sink (cello)
PROGRAMME: Pärt, Grigorjeva, Mozart, Tüür, Gounod
Pärnu Music Festival opening concert
Wednesday, 12 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Conductor Neeme Järvi
Sinfonietta Rīga
PROGRAMME: Mozart, Haydn, Järvi
Estonian Saxophone Orchestra
Thursday, 13 July 2023 16:00, Pärnu Town Hall (FREE)
Conductor, artistic director Johan van der Linden (saxophone)
Estonian Saxophone Orchestra
Elske te Lindert (soprano)
Järvi Academy gala
Thursday, 13 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Teachers and participants of Järvi Academy
Järvi Academy Sinfonietta
Theodor Sink (cello)
PROGRAMME: R. Strauss, Kõrvits, Hindemith, Mozart, Grigorjeva, Gounod
Kristjan Järvi & Baltic Sea Philharmonic – Babylon Pärnu
Friday, 14 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall – “Babylon Pärnu”
Conductor Kristjan Järvi
Baltic Sea Philharmonic
Afterglow “Babylon Pärnu”
Friday, 14 July 2023 22:00, Ammende Villa
DJ Martin Saar
DJ Marnisch from Berlin with the finest selection of rare gems on Vynil
DJ Kristjan Jarvi exclusively for Ammende Villa
Paavo Järvi & Estonian Festival Orchestra
Saturday, 15 July 2023⋅20:00
Conductor Paavo Järvi
Estonian Festival Orchestra
Pinchas Zukerman (viola)
Amanda Forsyth (cello)
PROGRAMME: Reinvere, R. Strauss, Bruch, Berlioz
Paavo Järvi & Estonian Festival Orchestra
Sunday, 16 July 2023⋅20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Conductor Paavo Järvi
Mirjam Mesak (soprano)
PROGRAMME: Reinvere, Berg, R. Strauss, J. Strauss
Premiere: Neeme Järvi. Conductor
Monday, 17 July 2023 16:00, Apollo Pärnu Cinema The film follows beloved and internationally acclaimed conductor Neeme Järvi in his endeavors over the past four years, both in Estonia and…
Estonian Foundation of Musical Instruments
Monday, 17 July 2023 19:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Florian Donderer
Artists of the Estonian Foundation of Musical Instruments
Pärnu Music Festival Chamber Orchestra
PROGRAMME: Vivaldi, Locatelli
Night Concert
Monday, 17 July 2023 22:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Zee Zee (piano) & Artists of Estonian Festival Orchestra
PROGRAMME: Rachmaninoff, Beach
Children’s concert
Tuesday, 18 July 2023 12:00, Ammende Villa
The annual children’s concert, where in the spirit of Järvi Academy, children are introduced to various musical instruments and have the opportunity to try some of them.
Chamber Music gala
Tuesday, 18 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Artists of Estonian Festival Orchestra
PROGRAMME: Price, Dvořák, Tüür, Bowen, J. Strauss II, Tchaikovsky
Järvi Academy final concert
Wednesday, 19 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Participants of Järvi Academy
Matthew Hunt (clarinet)
Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra
PROGRAMME: Kapp, Debussy, Strauss II, Sibelius
JÄRVI SESSIONS VOL. 4
Thursday, 20 July 2023 16:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Järvi Sessions Vol. 4: concert-chat “Fear of Making a Mistake”
Pärnu Music Festival final concert I
Thursday, 20 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Conductor Paavo Järvi
Estonian Festival Orchestra
François Leleux (oboe)
PROGRAMME: Pärt, R. Strauss, Tchaikovsky
Pärnu Music Festival final concert II
Friday, 21 July 2023 20:00, Pärnu Concert Hall
Conductor Paavo Järvi
Estonian Festival Orchestra
Fazıl Say (piano)
PROGRAMME: Pärt, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky