On Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m., the Estonia Concert Hall will host the inaugural concert of the AFEKT Festival’s 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter‑century of contemporary music in the Baltic region. The event is themed “Space,” probing how modern composers interrogate time, environment, and change in their work.
Tickets are on sale now; fans can secure seats for a €15 discount by entering the code AFEKT during checkout. The festival’s free 6 p.m. pre‑concert discussion will feature composer Mart Siimer and conductor Gregor A. Mayrhofer, available to ticket holders only.
Opening Program
The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), led by the young German conductor Gregor A. Mayrhofer, will premiere a program of symphonic pieces that push the boundaries of contemporary repertoire:
- Erkki‑Sven Tüür – “Zeitraum” – The opening work, chosen for its resonance with the “Time Space” theme, reflects Tüür’s pivotal role in shaping Estonia’s modern music scene.
- Mart Siimer – “Ipsum esse”
- Tatjana Kozlova‑Johannes – “Karje vari” (“Shadow of a Scream”)
- Mirjam Tally – “Eclipse” – Tally describes the piece as an evocation of the first light before sunrise, a quiet awakening of nature.
- Kristine Tjøgersen – “Between Trees”
- Dieter Ammann – “glut”
Monika Mattiesen, artistic director of AFEKT, praised Tüür’s contribution: “His work has been a cornerstone for Estonian contemporary music and the festival’s evolution. ‘Zeitraum’ sets the tone for an exploration of how sound inhabits and transforms space.”
The festival’s 25th edition is a landmark for AFEKT, which has become a significant platform within Europe’s contemporary music landscape. The opening concert promises a rich dialogue between the past, present, and future of symphonic music, inviting audiences to rethink the interplay between sonic time and spatial perception.
Tickets can be purchased through sviby. Don’t miss the chance to experience a landmark event that celebrates both the legacy and the forward momentum of Estonian and European contemporary music concerts.
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