ESTMyths and Legends
The opening concert of ERSO’s new series Myths and Legends invites audiences into the powerful story of Kullervo, the tragic hero from Finnish folklore. This dramatic tale, brought to life through the music of Jean Sibelius, will be performed by the Estonian National Male Choir and soloists Andrew Foster-Williams and Tuuri Dede, under the baton of conductor Matthew Halls. The program also includes Sibelius’ orchestral ballad The Wood Nymph, based on Viktor Rydberg’s poem about a young man enticed by a mysterious forest spirit.
In February, ERSO continues along the Kalevala path with two more works by Jean Sibelius, conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk. The symphonic poem The Maiden of the North tells the story of the white-bearded Väinämöinen, who sees the beautiful maiden weaving golden cloth on a rainbow and tries to win her through a series of impossible tasks. The Lemminkäinen Suite, on the other hand, brings to life four legends from the Kalevala, centered on the bold and impetuous hero Lemminkäinen. Also featured on the program is Fisher King, a trumpet concerto by Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin, performed by renowned soloist Håkan Hardenberger.
The March concert centers on the legend of the magical Firebird, a creature that brings either great fortune or ruin to its captor. In the fairy tale that inspired Igor Stravinsky’s famous ballet, the Firebird is caught by Tsar Ivan, who releases her in exchange for a magical charm to aid him on his journey. Along the way, Ivan must face the evil sorcerer Kashchey and rescue a princess. The concert, conducted by Ukrainian maestro Kirill Karabits, also features Poème lyrique by his compatriot Théodore Akimenko. Pianist Simon Trpčeski joins ERSO to perform Maurice Ravel’s dazzling Piano Concerto.
ERSO closes its 99th season with a particularly thrilling guest: cimbalom virtuoso, who will perform a suite from Zoltán Kodály’s comic opera Háry János. The work tells of villagers gathered in a Hungarian tavern to hear the fantastical tales of the old soldier Háry János—most famously, how he single-handedly defeated Napoleon in Milan, yet refused to marry the Empress out of loyalty to his village sweetheart, Örzse. The program also includes Johannes Brahms’ spirited Hungarian Dances and his Third Symphony, conducted by Olari Elts.