Estonian Music & Art News - Week 2, May 2025

ERSO Concludes Season with 'Romance' Finale (May 16)

The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) will conclude its 2024/2025 season on May 16 at the Estonia Concert Hall with a powerful program themed around bells and prophecy, echoing the season's opening concert. Conducted by Olari Elts, the evening features:

• Thomas Adès – America: A Prophecy

• Arvo Pärt – Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten

• Lepo Sumera – Symphony No. 2

• Sergei Rachmaninoff – The Bells, performed with the State Choir LATVIJA and soloists Emma Bell, Elena Brazhnyk, Mati Turi, and Egils Siliņš

This concert marks the culmination of ERSO's 'Romance' series. For more details, visit erso.ee.

Estonian National Opera Announces 2025/2026 Season

The Estonian National Opera has unveiled its 2025/2026 season, promising a diverse lineup of performances:

• Premieres:

  • Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten

  • Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti

  • Valgus maailma lõpust (ballet) by J. Gribi and A. Kruusmaa

• Repertoire Highlights:

  • Anna Karenina (ballet) by M. Kesler

  • Kabaree (musical) by John Kander

  • Trubaduur (opera) by G. Verdi

The season also includes educational projects and chamber music concerts. For the full program and tickets, visit tickets.opera.ee.

Estonia Advances to Eurovision 2025 Grand Final

Estonia has successfully secured a spot in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final, taking place on Saturday, May 17, in Basel, Switzerland. Represented by avant-garde artist Tommy Cash with his track "Espresso Macchiato", Estonia qualified during the first semi-final held on May 13. This marks Estonia's fourth consecutive qualification for the Grand Final.

Tommy Cash earned his place at Eurovision by winning Eesti Laul 2025, Estonia's national selection competition, where he triumphed in the superfinal with overwhelming public support.

The Grand Final will feature 26 countries and will be broadcast live across Europe and online. Estonian viewers can tune in via ERR to support their entry.

Upcoming Concerts on May 17

• Open Space Concert: The Ensemble for New Music Tallinn will perform works by Tüür, Kruusmaa, Kõrvits, and Pärt at the Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music in Tallinn at 19:00.

• Season Finale of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra: Held at the Cēsis Concert Hall in Latvia at 19:00, featuring compositions by Kaumann, Gershwin, and Orff.

• Ballet "The Lizard": A performance at the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn at 19:00, showcasing the collaborative work of Lepo Sumera, Märt-Matis Lill, and Marina Kesler.

#EstonianMusic #MaarjaNuut #Muundumine #TommyCash #EspressoMacchiato #Eurovision2025 #EstoniaInEurovision #ERSO #OlariElts #EstonianNationalOpera #TallinnEvents #VanemuineOrchestra #EstonianNationalOpera