BALTIC presents music and film from the Baltic States
BALTIC is a four-day festival from 11 to 14 November in the Concertgebouw Bruges that focuses on music and film from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. You can become acquainted with the rich, but not always accessible culture of this region.
“We chose the Baltic States because Bruges’ city festival Brugge Centraal will be focusing on Central Europe this year, but also because it’s a region with a remarkable musical culture with an exceptional amount of talent”, explains artistic director Jeroen Vanacker.
Rich choral tradition
With the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Latvian Radio Choir, the festival is presenting two of the world’s best choirs. After all, the Baltic States are mainly known for their rich choral tradition. Choir festivals are organised en masse there and it is said that half the population is a member of a choir.
There was a so-called singing revolution in the Baltic States from 1987 to 1990. People sang traditional folksongs during peaceful demonstrations, which emphasised the common cultural past but were banned by the Soviet regime.
There are still contributions to the rich traditions of Baltic choral singing by contemporary composers, such as the Estonian Erkki-Sven Tüür and the Lithuanian Rytus Mazulis. Their work will also get a chance during the four-day event, as well as work of Arvo Pärt, the godfather of Baltic music.
Laptops and violin
The link between past and present is also explicit during the festival with Lithuanian lap top quartet Twentytwentyone that combines electronic music with the sound of traditional instruments.
On 14 November, you can see top violinist Baiba Skride, who won the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in 2001, at work. Together with her sister, pianist Lauma Skride, she will be performing chamber music by Mozart, Schumann, Prokofiev and Latvian composer Jazeps Vitols.
Baltic film
Apart from music, the festival will also be offering Baltic film. Director Bram Crols selected two documentaries that were honoured at several festivals, and the full-length film Vortex. The film was Lithuania’s entry for the Academy Awards last year. Vortex tells the story of a man who is broken by the Soviet system.
More information about BALTIC.
Photos from top to bottom:
Topic photo of the festival © Olivier Culmann
Estonian Chamber Choir © Kaupo Kikkas
Baiba and Lauma Skride © Marco Borggreve