Vanemuine Foyer Concert

Series

January 26th, 2025 at 16.00 in the Vanemuine Grand Building foyer
The first part of the Vanemuine foyer concert on January 26 will feature Ernö Dohnányi’s Serenade for String Trio. This serenade is a progressive piece. Dohnányi’s complex way of developing themes is reminiscent of Brahms, while his music always bears a kinship with the works of Mozart and Schubert. However, the shifting chromatic tonality of the serenade is distinctly from the 20th century.
In the second part of the concert, Franz Schubert’s “Trout Quintet” will be performed. A masterpiece of chamber music for contrabass, it is filled with lively characters and singing melodies. The piece gets its name from Schubert’s charming song “Die Forelle”, whose melody forms the basis of the variations in the quintet’s fourth movement. Schubert’s signature beautiful melodies offer new ideas and moods in abundance.
Program:
Part I
Ernö Dohnányi, Serenade for String Trio, C-major, op. 10
Performers Kristel Eeroja-Põldoja (violin), Kadri Rehema (viola), Lauri Sõõro (cello)
Part II
Franz Schubert, Piano Quintet, A-major, op. 114, „Trout Quintet“
Performers Piia Paemurru (piano), Kristel Eeroja-Põldoja (violin), Kadri Rehema (viola), Lauri Sõõro (cello), Hanna-Ingrid Tominga (contrabass)

March 11th, 2025 at 19.00 in the Vanemuine Grand Building foyer
The Vanemuine foyer concert of March 11th will take the audience on a musical journey beginning with 18th-century Classicism. The string quartet of Vanemuine’s orchestra will perform Joseph Haydn’s “Emperor Quartet”, which was created for the Austrian imperial court and became Austria’s national anthem for over a century. The program will also feature Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 and the Danish String Quartet’s fresh interpretation of Nordic folk melodies.
Program:
Joseph Haydn, String Quartet no. 3, C-major, op. 76 (“Emperor Quartet”)
Alexander Borodin, String Quartet no. 2, D-major
Wood Works, Nordic folk tunes arranged by Danish String Quartet
Performers Federico Mechelli Uhl (I violin), Marta Mutso (II violin), Teresa Järve (viola), Camillo Cabassi (cello)


May 3rd, 2025 at 19.00 in the Vanemuine Grand Building foyer
The May 3rd Vanemuine foyer concert will showcase two musical duos. Soprano Karmen Puis and pianist Ele Sonn will present compositions by Kurt Weill and George Gershwin, key figures of early 20th-century American stage music. In contrast, soprano Helen Nõmm and harpist Kai Visnapuu will delve into the works of Benjamin Britten, performing his arrangements of traditional English folk songs as well as excerpts from the song cycle “A Birthday Hansel”. Written in 1975, this piece was commissioned as a birthday tribute for Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, with lyrics drawn from the poetry of Robert Burns.
Program:
Works by Kurt Weill and George Gershwin
Benjamin Britten, “A Birthday Hansel”, op. 92 (excerpts)
English folk songs, arranged by Benjamin Britten
Performers Karmen Puis (soprano), Helen Nõmm (soprano), Kai Visnapuu (harp), Ele Sonn (piano)