Glasperlenspiel 2024: Opening Concert – ENTRÉE FESTIVE

Hans Christian Aavik (violin), Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, concertmaster Arvo Leibur, Maestro Neeme Järvi Haydn, “Turkish” Mozart, Albinoni

The opening concert of the Glasperlenspiel makes a festive and grand introduction to the festival, bringing the brightest representatives of different generations of Estonian musicians to the stage. Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, known by the nickname “Turkish”, will feature Hans Christian Aavik, the most outstanding young Estonian violinist of recent years, who has attracted extraordinary attention both at home and in Europe for his versatile style and distinctive sound and has been praised for combining a probing intellect and curiosity with an extroverted charisma. He is the first Estonian to study at one of the world’s most prestigious music schools for string instrumentalists, the Kronberg Academy. Maestro Neeme Järvi will conduct the festival’s flagship Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, while violinist Hans Christian’s brother Henri Christofer Aavik, who has also won numerous awards, will appear as an assistant conductor. In addition to the aforementioned concerto by Mozart, the opening evening will contain masterpieces by his contemporaries Joseph Haydn and Luigi Boccherini.

Hans Christian Aavik is one of the most promising Estonian violinists, who has gained recognition with his versatile style and clearly distinguishable sound both in Estonia and Europe. He is the prize winner of the 2022 Carl Nielsen International Competition, the international competition “Cadenza Contest” (2021) and the 3rd Làszlò Spezzaferri International Music Competition (2021), to name just a few. In 2022, Aavik received the Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the “Musician of the year” title by Association of Estonian Professional Musicians and the Usedom Prize. As a soloist, Aavik has collaborated with orchestras such as Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian Festival Orchestra, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Uppsala Chamber Orchestra and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra and has worked together with conductors Ville Matvejeff, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Olari Elts, Risto Joost, Daniela Musca, Arvo Volmer, Kaspar Mänd, Edoardo Narbona, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Mihhail Gerts and others. His debut album Aeternus (Pilw Records) with pianist Karolina Aavik was released in 2021. Aavik is currently studying in the prestigious Kronberg Academy with Prof Erik Schumann.

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