Tickets are now on sale for a month‑long series of concerts, documentaries and stage‑recordings at the Artis cinema, marking the Estonian National Opera and Ballet’s centenary.
The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) is taking its 100‑year history to the big screen. From 24 September to 5 November, the small hall of the Artis cinema will screen seven carefully curated programs, each beginning at 6 p.m. and preceded by a brief introduction that sets the context for the film or recording.
| Date | Program | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep | Three‑quarters of a Century with ERSO – Part 1 & 2 | The opening documentary traces the ensemble’s origins in 1926, through its evolution into the ERSO in 1975, with archival footage and testimonies from early musicians. |
| 1 Oct | Three‑quarters of a Century with ERSO – Part 3 & 4 | The story continues from 1975 to the new millennium, covering Neeme Järvi, Peeter Lilje, extensive recordings, tours, and the nation’s restoration of independence. |
| 8 Oct | Neeme Järvi – Music Above All Else | A portrait of the internationally acclaimed conductor, featuring colleagues such as Thomas Hampson, Joshua Bell and Nicola Benedetti, and exploring his deep ties to the ERSO. |
| 15 Oct | Mahler’s “Titan”: Romance, Death & the Triumph of a Young Musician | Two Jason Starr documentaries that dive into Mahler’s early career, blending dramatizations, animation and expert interviews, all set to performances by Järvi and the ERSO. |
| 22 Oct | Gateway to Space: Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” | The film captures a new recording of Mahler’s 8th Symphony in Tallinn (2023), featuring the ERSO, the Estonian National Male Choir, Latvian mixed choir, and soloists, interlaced with dance, animation and visual imagery. |
| 29 Oct | Midsummer Night’s Sleep | A film‑recording of the 2016 production that merged Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Mendelssohn, the NO99 Theatre, the ERSO, and the Ellerhein girls’ choir, conducted by Olari Elts. |
| 5 Nov | Macbeth | The festival’s finale shows the 2023 recording of Ene‑Liis Semperi’s and Tiit Ojasoo’s production, where Shakespeare’s tragedy is driven by music from Lepo Sumera and the ERSO, again under Elts. |
Tickets for each screening are available for purchase online and at the Artis cinema box office. The event is a unique opportunity for music lovers to experience the ERSO’s legacy beyond the concert hall, through documentaries, staged recordings, and intimate conversations with conductors and performers.
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