Producer and conductor Kristjan Järvi will open the new music and urban culture festival Tallinn Music Week (TMW) on 30th of March at Kultuurikatel (Tallinn Creative Hub) together with world-class multi-genre artists Gene Pritsker, Bellatrix and Glasperlenspiel All Stars.
The Sunbeam production of TMW 2017 opening concert “Radio Head Rewritten” will take the audience on a journey through the different eras and influences of the club scenes around the Radio Head era until now. The event includes Steve Reich’s “Radio Rewrite”, a piece based on themes from Radiohead songs, as well as music written and performed by Gene Pritsker. Beatbox World Champion Bellatrix and Kristjan Järvi will be accompanied by an Estonian collective Glasperlenspiel All Stars. The artistic director and producer including visual- and sound design of the “Radio Head Rewritten” concept is Kristjan Järvi and his Estonian production company Sunbeam Productions.
Kristjan Järvi is one of the canniest and most innovative characters on today’s music scene. His work is characterised by the conductor’s unmistakable approach in taking a fresh look at the old, with concepts and presentation that transcend the borders of classical music. Järvi, the music director of Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, founder and leader of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic and the founder and director of Grammy-nominated Absolute Ensemble, has collaborated with some of today’s brightest creative minds from composers and artists such as Joe Zawinul, Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, or on one of his latest production called “Lost Tribes” with Hauschka, one of the highlight performers at this year’s TMW.
At the TMW opening concert, Järvi’s post-genre adventures will be accompanied by the Russian-born US composer, guitarist, rapper and DJ Gene Pritsker and UK based world champion of beat-box Bellatrix.
Gene Pritsker is the founder and leader of Sound Liberation – an eclectic ensemble combining hip-hop, chamber music, jazz and rock. He has written over six hundred compositions, including chamber operas, orchestral and chamber works, electro-acoustic music and songs for hip-hop and rock ensembles. He has also orchestrated major Hollywood movies, including “Cloud Atlas”.
Bellatrix is a musical explorer and songwriter from the UK. Primarily a bass player and vocalist, her broad palette of influences from hip-hop to jazz, folk, and the downright weird is apparent across her music and character. Known for her work with independent power-house girl band The Boxettes and psychedelic hip-hop outfit Dizraeli and The Small Gods, she now focuses on developing her solo artistry.
The international triumvirate will be accompanied by Estonian Glasperlenspiel All Stars, featuring renowned Estonian musicians and collectives Prezioso String Quartet, pianist and composer Kristjan Randalu, cross-genre drummer Hele-Riin Uib, percussionist Heigo Rosin, flautist Heili Rosin, jazz pianist Kirke Karja, bass player Mihkel Mälgand and saxophone player Martin Kuusk.
“Radio Rewrite” (2012) by Steve Reich will form the backbone of the concert, combining motives from Radiohead’s “Jigsaw Falling into Place” and “Everything in Its Right Place”. This five-part work is a symbiosis of Reich’s unique style and pop music, focusing not only on laconic borrowed melodies but also on harmonies and chords that form the foundation of Radiohead’s music.
Kristjan Järvi, Bellatrix and Gene Pritsker – this time aka Di.J.NoizePunk – will perform an electronic set “Rip Up the Stage” at Kultuurikatel as part of the follow-up concert programme in two halls. Among others, the acclaimed Scottish multi-instrumentalist C Duncan, and some of the most promising Estonian artists Maarja Nuut, Hendrik Kaljujärv and Mart Avi will perform.
TMW 2017 opening concert “Radio Head Rewritten” takes place on March 30th at Kultuurikatel. Doors open at 18.00, concert begins at 19.00.
Entry with festival Priority Pass, delegates’ pass or single ticket.
Tickets for the opening concert are on sale for €25 at Piletilevi.
The opening concert ticket is valid for the TMW opening party at Kultuurikatel starting at 20.00.
TMW 2017 Priority Passes are on sale for €150 at TMW web-store.
Priority Pass holders are asked to register for the opening concert by March 20th by e-mail.
TMW 2017 festival passes for 60€ are on sale at TMW web-store. Festival pass doesn’t grant access to the opening concert “Radio Head Rewritten”, however, it is valid for the following concert programme at Kultuurikatel and all other showcases of the festival.
TMW 2017 delegate passes are available for 250€ until 19th March (from 20th March 295€) at TMW web-store. Sign up as a delegate and buy your pass. TMW delegate pass grants access to the conference seminars and priority access to the music festival, including the opening concert.
This year’s edition of TMW from 27th March to 2nd April will present the music festival line-up and two-day industry conference, a series of free City Stage concerts, TMW Arts programme, curated by the Estonian Contemporary Arts Development Centre, Design Market showcasing the most exciting Baltic and Scandinavian brands and designs, TMW Talks series with topics from music to science and societal issues, City Space activities in cooperation with Estonian Academy of Arts and a special kids and youth programme.
TMW 2017 is presented by Nordea bank, the sponsors are Telia and Spotify, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Enterprise Estonia, Eesti Meedia and Nordic Hotel Forum. Partners and supporters of TMW are Uber, Viru Keskus, Telliskivi Creative City, Solaris, Music Estonia, Tuborg, LaMuu, Fritz Kola, Tallinn City government. Tallinn Music Week’s international activities introducing Tallinn and Estonia as an attractive tourism destination of music and culture are supported by The European Regional Development Fund.