Palace Music: Monika-Evelin Liiv, Siim Selis, Aare Tammesalu
Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 6 p.m. Kadriorg Palace / Kadriorg Art Museum, Tallinn
PALACE MUSIC
Monika-Evelin Liiv - mezzosoprano
Siim Selis - piano
Aare Tammesalu - cello
Program:
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
"Romance" for cello ja piano in A major, Op. 69
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
"Abendlied" ("Evening Song") for cello and piano in D flat major, Op. 85, No. 12
Arranged by Willem Willeke
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
Rondo in G minor for cello and piano, Op. 94
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
"Il tramonto" ("Sunset") for mezzosoprano and piano P. 101
Poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Étude Op. 25, No. 7 in C sharp minor for cello and piano
Arranged for cello and piano by Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Two Songs for mezzosoprano, cello and piano Op. 91
Gestillte Sehnsucht. Adagio espressivo
Lyrics: Friedrich Rückert (1788–1866)
Geistliches Wiegenlied. Andante con moto
Lyrics: Emanuel Geibel (1815–1884) after Lope de Vega (1562–1635)
The concert is supported by:
Hotel Telegraaf
Tallinn. Estonia
Described as a “world-class mezzo with scrupulous musicality and fine technique” (Opera Now), Monika-Evelin Liiv trained at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Lithuanian Music Academy, and is an alumna of the prestigious Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist Programme.
Liiv made her debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Flora in La Traviata alongside Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. She has since established a prolonged relationship with the house, performing numerous roles including Mercédès (Carmen), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Second Maid (Elektra), Ines (Il Trovatore), Popova (The Bear), Grimgerde (Die Walküre in the Ring Cycle), and Die Kunstgewerblerin (Lulu—released on DVD by Opus Arte), as well as covering major roles such as Filipjevna (Eugene Onegin), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Mary (Der fliegende Holländer), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Amneris (Aida), and the roles of Jocaste and Merope in Enescu’s Oedipe.
Her continuous work at Covent Garden has drawn consistent acclaim from major UK press; most recently, she delivered what critics called a "delightful comic turn" as Marthe Schwertlein in Sir David McVicar's production of Faust (London Unattached), and was hailed as a "formidable Emilia" (The Evening Standard) and a "forthright, outraged Emilia" (Opera Today) in Keith Warner's production of Otello. Her upcoming engagements at Covent Garden include performing La Badessa and covering Zia Principessa in Il trittico.
Winner of the Estonian Cultural Endowment Award and a two-time recipient of the Estonian Theatre Award for outstanding performance, her leading operatic milestones include Amneris (Aida), Polina (Pique Dame), Cornelia and the title role in Giulio Cesare, and the title role in Rinaldo at the Estonian National Opera. Her dynamic career spans major international houses, featuring performances as Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) and Polina (Pique Dame) with the Israeli Opera; Polina (Pique Dame), Voice from Above (Parsifal), and Serving Maid/Voice of an Unborn Child (Die Frau ohne Schatten) at the Finnish National Opera; as well as La Badessa (Suor Angelica) at the Edinburgh International Festival, Annina (Der Rosenkavalier), Eboli (Don Carlo), Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera), and Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana) for Opéra de Baugé.
A premier interpreter of the dramatic Verdi repertoire, she has performed the signature role of Azucena (Il Trovatore) to critical acclaim at the Royal Opera House, as well as in Estonia, Finland, and France. Other notable house debuts include performing Federica in Luisa Miller at the Latvian National Opera and Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. In the concert hall, she recently appeared at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
Concert and symphonic performances have taken her across Italy, France, Canada, China, Finland, Estonia, Israel, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and the USA. Her expansive repertoire spans Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bruckner's Mass No. 1, Mozart’s Requiem, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Respighi’s Il tramonto, De Falla’s Siete Canciones populares Españolas, Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Penderecki’s Dies Illa, Dvořák’s Requiem, Sibelius’ Kullervo Symphony, and Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky.
She has collaborated with internationally renowned conductors such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Daniel Oren, Sir Mark Elder, Carlo Rizzi, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Giacomo Sagripanti, Maurizio Benini, Olari Elts, Daniele Rustioni, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Julian Rachlin, Stefano Ranzani, Eri Klas, Andres Mustonen, and Mikko Franck, performing with top-tier ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London City Orchestra, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Vaasa City Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia.
Standing among the world's elite vocalists, Liiv's upcoming engagements include joining the Metropolitan Opera in New York to cover the leading role of Amneris in Aida, alongside future performances as Erda (Das Rheingold) at Saaremaa Opera Days, and as La Badessa (Suor Angelica) and cover of Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Siim Selis graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in piano, studying in the class of Professor Valdur Roots, and completed the Academy’s master’s programme in accompaniment under Professor Vilma Mallene and Associate Professor Helin Kapp. He also studied conducting there with Jüri Rent and Ilmar Tõnisson. Since 1992, he has served as conductor of the Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology, and since 1994 as an accompanist at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Siim Selis has collaborated with numerous Estonian singers and choirs, and has appeared as both pianist and conductor in Finland, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He has performed with several orchestras and as a soloist, and, as a pianist, regularly works with the Estonian National Male Choir and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
Aare Tammesalu is an Estonian cellist active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing both classical repertoire and contemporary music. In addition, he is an active concert organizer. Tammesalu studied cello at the Tallinn Music High School in the class of Laine Leichter and at the Tallinn State Conservatory under Ivo Juul and Prof. Toomas Velmet. He is a laureate of the Estonian National String Players’ Competition (1987) and the recipient of a special prize for the best performance of a work by J. S. Bach. He later continued his studies in the master’s program at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Peeter Paemurru. He has further refined his skills in private studies in Moscow with Prof. Mikhail Khomitzer and participated in masterclasses with Prof. Martin Ostertag.
Tammesalu has taken part in nearly all major Estonian music festivals and has performed at internationally renowned festivals in Europe, North and South America, Japan, Russia, and Iran. He has appeared as a soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), the Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra, Klaaspärlimäng Sinfonietta, the Pärnu City Orchestra, the 21st Century Orchestra, the Kotka City Orchestra (Finland), chamber orchestra ME, the Estonian National Male Choir, and the Moscow Conservatory Mixed Choir (Russia). He has been a member of several ensembles, including Reval Ensemble, the Tobias String Quartet, and Resonabilis.
Aare Tammesalu has premiered works by numerous composers, including Giovanni Bonato, Lepo Sumera, Eino Tamberg, Andres Uibo, Mirjam Tally, Andrus Kallastu, Marianna Liik, Märt-Matis Lill, Igor Garšnek, Galina Grigorjeva, Liisa Hirsch, Heimar Ilves, Lauri Jõeleht, Mihkel Kerem, Tõnis Kaumann, Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes, Ülo Krigul, Margo Kõlar, Kristjan Kõrver, Tõnu Kõrvits, Hans-Gunter Lock, Malle Maltis, Eduard Oja, Rasmus Puur, Jüri Reinvere, Urmas Sisask, Helena Tulve, Ardo Ran Varres, and others. His recordings include works by Artur Kapp, Tõnu Kõrvits, Kuldar Sink, Lepo Sumera, Toivo Tulev, Mirjam Tally, Marianna Liik, and others. In 2010, in collaboration with ERES, he released the album “Cello and Organ,” featuring Estonian cello music from different periods.
He has also produced recordings, including “Clarinette omnitonique” with music by Iwan Müller and W. A. Mozart (Toomas Vavilov, Arvo Leibur, Toomas Nestor, Aare Tammesalu) and “To Reach Yesterday” featuring works by Lepo Sumera (Neeme Punder, Lea Leiten, Meelis Vind, Pille Lill, Marje Lohuaru, Aare Tammesalu), among others. In 2008, Tammesalu created the musical design for a restored screening of the silent film “Young Eagles” (1927, dir. T. Luts) and participated in the restoration and re-recording of the soundtrack for the Estonian Television feature film “Blind Windows” (composer E. Tamberg).
Aare Tammesalu has worked as a music producer at Eesti Kontsert and the Pärnu Philharmonic. He has organized performance competitions, including the J. S. Bach Competition at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2000 and the Pärnu Violin Competition in 2008 and 2010. Since 1995, he has been the artistic director of the Mustjala Festival in Saaremaa and the Kadriorg Palace concert series. His work has been recognized with annual awards from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Estonian Music Council, a special prize from the Estonian Theatre Union, and the Hendrik Krumm Cultural Award. In February 2023, the Saaremaa Municipality honored him with the “Deed of the Year 2022” award for organizing the Mustjala Festival, and in 2023, the council of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church awarded him the title “Friend of the Church of the Year.” In January 2025, the Saaremaa Cultural Endowment awarded him its annual prize for organizing an ERSO concert in June 2024 at the Mustjala School Hall in Saaremaa. Aare Tammesalu is an honorary citizen of Mustjala Parish.
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
"Abendlied" ("Evening Song") for cello and piano in D flat major, Op. 85, No. 12
Arranged by Willem Willeke
Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904)
Rondo in G minor for cello and piano, Op. 94
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
"Il tramonto" ("Sunset") for mezzosoprano and piano P. 101
Poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Étude Op. 25, No. 7 in C sharp minor for cello and piano
Arranged for cello and piano by Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Two Songs for mezzosoprano, cello and piano Op. 91
Gestillte Sehnsucht. Adagio espressivo
Lyrics: Friedrich Rückert (1788–1866)
Geistliches Wiegenlied. Andante con moto
Lyrics: Emanuel Geibel (1815–1884) after Lope de Vega (1562–1635)
The concert is supported by:
Hotel Telegraaf
Tallinn. Estonia
Described as a “world-class mezzo with scrupulous musicality and fine technique” (Opera Now), Monika-Evelin Liiv trained at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Lithuanian Music Academy, and is an alumna of the prestigious Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist Programme.
Liiv made her debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Flora in La Traviata alongside Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky. She has since established a prolonged relationship with the house, performing numerous roles including Mercédès (Carmen), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Second Maid (Elektra), Ines (Il Trovatore), Popova (The Bear), Grimgerde (Die Walküre in the Ring Cycle), and Die Kunstgewerblerin (Lulu—released on DVD by Opus Arte), as well as covering major roles such as Filipjevna (Eugene Onegin), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Mary (Der fliegende Holländer), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Amneris (Aida), and the roles of Jocaste and Merope in Enescu’s Oedipe.
Her continuous work at Covent Garden has drawn consistent acclaim from major UK press; most recently, she delivered what critics called a "delightful comic turn" as Marthe Schwertlein in Sir David McVicar's production of Faust (London Unattached), and was hailed as a "formidable Emilia" (The Evening Standard) and a "forthright, outraged Emilia" (Opera Today) in Keith Warner's production of Otello. Her upcoming engagements at Covent Garden include performing La Badessa and covering Zia Principessa in Il trittico.
Winner of the Estonian Cultural Endowment Award and a two-time recipient of the Estonian Theatre Award for outstanding performance, her leading operatic milestones include Amneris (Aida), Polina (Pique Dame), Cornelia and the title role in Giulio Cesare, and the title role in Rinaldo at the Estonian National Opera. Her dynamic career spans major international houses, featuring performances as Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) and Polina (Pique Dame) with the Israeli Opera; Polina (Pique Dame), Voice from Above (Parsifal), and Serving Maid/Voice of an Unborn Child (Die Frau ohne Schatten) at the Finnish National Opera; as well as La Badessa (Suor Angelica) at the Edinburgh International Festival, Annina (Der Rosenkavalier), Eboli (Don Carlo), Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera), and Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana) for Opéra de Baugé.
A premier interpreter of the dramatic Verdi repertoire, she has performed the signature role of Azucena (Il Trovatore) to critical acclaim at the Royal Opera House, as well as in Estonia, Finland, and France. Other notable house debuts include performing Federica in Luisa Miller at the Latvian National Opera and Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. In the concert hall, she recently appeared at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
Concert and symphonic performances have taken her across Italy, France, Canada, China, Finland, Estonia, Israel, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and the USA. Her expansive repertoire spans Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bruckner's Mass No. 1, Mozart’s Requiem, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Respighi’s Il tramonto, De Falla’s Siete Canciones populares Españolas, Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Penderecki’s Dies Illa, Dvořák’s Requiem, Sibelius’ Kullervo Symphony, and Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky.
She has collaborated with internationally renowned conductors such as Sir Antonio Pappano, Daniel Oren, Sir Mark Elder, Carlo Rizzi, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Giacomo Sagripanti, Maurizio Benini, Olari Elts, Daniele Rustioni, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Julian Rachlin, Stefano Ranzani, Eri Klas, Andres Mustonen, and Mikko Franck, performing with top-tier ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London City Orchestra, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Vaasa City Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia.
Standing among the world's elite vocalists, Liiv's upcoming engagements include joining the Metropolitan Opera in New York to cover the leading role of Amneris in Aida, alongside future performances as Erda (Das Rheingold) at Saaremaa Opera Days, and as La Badessa (Suor Angelica) and cover of Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Siim Selis graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in piano, studying in the class of Professor Valdur Roots, and completed the Academy’s master’s programme in accompaniment under Professor Vilma Mallene and Associate Professor Helin Kapp. He also studied conducting there with Jüri Rent and Ilmar Tõnisson. Since 1992, he has served as conductor of the Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology, and since 1994 as an accompanist at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Siim Selis has collaborated with numerous Estonian singers and choirs, and has appeared as both pianist and conductor in Finland, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He has performed with several orchestras and as a soloist, and, as a pianist, regularly works with the Estonian National Male Choir and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.
Aare Tammesalu is an Estonian cellist active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing both classical repertoire and contemporary music. In addition, he is an active concert organizer. Tammesalu studied cello at the Tallinn Music High School in the class of Laine Leichter and at the Tallinn State Conservatory under Ivo Juul and Prof. Toomas Velmet. He is a laureate of the Estonian National String Players’ Competition (1987) and the recipient of a special prize for the best performance of a work by J. S. Bach. He later continued his studies in the master’s program at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Prof. Peeter Paemurru. He has further refined his skills in private studies in Moscow with Prof. Mikhail Khomitzer and participated in masterclasses with Prof. Martin Ostertag.
Tammesalu has taken part in nearly all major Estonian music festivals and has performed at internationally renowned festivals in Europe, North and South America, Japan, Russia, and Iran. He has appeared as a soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), the Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra, Klaaspärlimäng Sinfonietta, the Pärnu City Orchestra, the 21st Century Orchestra, the Kotka City Orchestra (Finland), chamber orchestra ME, the Estonian National Male Choir, and the Moscow Conservatory Mixed Choir (Russia). He has been a member of several ensembles, including Reval Ensemble, the Tobias String Quartet, and Resonabilis.
Aare Tammesalu has premiered works by numerous composers, including Giovanni Bonato, Lepo Sumera, Eino Tamberg, Andres Uibo, Mirjam Tally, Andrus Kallastu, Marianna Liik, Märt-Matis Lill, Igor Garšnek, Galina Grigorjeva, Liisa Hirsch, Heimar Ilves, Lauri Jõeleht, Mihkel Kerem, Tõnis Kaumann, Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes, Ülo Krigul, Margo Kõlar, Kristjan Kõrver, Tõnu Kõrvits, Hans-Gunter Lock, Malle Maltis, Eduard Oja, Rasmus Puur, Jüri Reinvere, Urmas Sisask, Helena Tulve, Ardo Ran Varres, and others. His recordings include works by Artur Kapp, Tõnu Kõrvits, Kuldar Sink, Lepo Sumera, Toivo Tulev, Mirjam Tally, Marianna Liik, and others. In 2010, in collaboration with ERES, he released the album “Cello and Organ,” featuring Estonian cello music from different periods.
He has also produced recordings, including “Clarinette omnitonique” with music by Iwan Müller and W. A. Mozart (Toomas Vavilov, Arvo Leibur, Toomas Nestor, Aare Tammesalu) and “To Reach Yesterday” featuring works by Lepo Sumera (Neeme Punder, Lea Leiten, Meelis Vind, Pille Lill, Marje Lohuaru, Aare Tammesalu), among others. In 2008, Tammesalu created the musical design for a restored screening of the silent film “Young Eagles” (1927, dir. T. Luts) and participated in the restoration and re-recording of the soundtrack for the Estonian Television feature film “Blind Windows” (composer E. Tamberg).
Aare Tammesalu has worked as a music producer at Eesti Kontsert and the Pärnu Philharmonic. He has organized performance competitions, including the J. S. Bach Competition at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2000 and the Pärnu Violin Competition in 2008 and 2010. Since 1995, he has been the artistic director of the Mustjala Festival in Saaremaa and the Kadriorg Palace concert series. His work has been recognized with annual awards from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Estonian Music Council, a special prize from the Estonian Theatre Union, and the Hendrik Krumm Cultural Award. In February 2023, the Saaremaa Municipality honored him with the “Deed of the Year 2022” award for organizing the Mustjala Festival, and in 2023, the council of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church awarded him the title “Friend of the Church of the Year.” In January 2025, the Saaremaa Cultural Endowment awarded him its annual prize for organizing an ERSO concert in June 2024 at the Mustjala School Hall in Saaremaa. Aare Tammesalu is an honorary citizen of Mustjala Parish.
Kadriorg Palace is one the most well known and beautiful historic concert halls in Estonia offering memorable music experiences already for many decades. The tradition of performing music in the baroque palace goes back to 18th century when court music accompanied the daily life. The palace has had the pleasure to welcome many international artists and ensembles for outstanding performances.
The construction of the Kadriorg Palace was started by the Tsar Peter the Great of Russia in 1718. It was named Catharinenthal (in Estonian Kadriorg) in honour of his wife Catherine I. The palace was designed by the Italian architect Nicola Michetti and its abundantly decorated main hall is one of the most exquisite examples of baroque architecture both in Estonia and in northern Europe.
Kadriorg Palace has always been the crown jewel of Tallinn. The small festive tsars’ palace in the style of Roman Baroque, surrounded by a regular garden, with fountains, hedges and flowerbeds, planned after the model of Versailles.
The palace was a summer residence of Russian emperors untill 1917. In the 1920s, and again in 1946-1991 palace served as the main building of the Art Museum of Estonia. In the 1930s, it was the residence of the Head of State of the Estonian Republic. In 2000, it was opened as the Kadriorg Art Museum, which displays the largest collection of old Russian and Western European art in Estonia.
Music has been performed in the palace halls since the 18th century. In the past few decades, the most brilliant Estonian and international musicians have delighted listeners in the palace. Regular concerts started to take place in the Kadriorg Palace again in 2014, when the museum launched the Palace Music Concert Series. The extraordinary acoustics and the magnificent interior of the main hall make every concert a truly enjoyable artistic experience.
The artistic director of the Palace Music Concert Series is Aare Tammesalu.
In cooperation of the Art Museum of Estonia.
Tickets are on sale at the Kadriorg Art Museum and Piletikeskus outlets.
Supporters: Estonian Ministry of Culture, The Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Public Broadcasting, Tallinn Culture and Sports Department, UNESCO City of Music Tallinn, Kultuurikõla, Pointprint
Special thanks: Visit Estonia, Visit Tallinn, Õhtuleht
Concert tickets are not refundable, but if necessary, we can exchange them for passes to other Palace Music concerts
Schedule
