Multimedia Performance Birth of the River Emajõgi

Birth of the River Emajõgi is a multimedia performance that mixes natural and human sounds with contemporary music, nature documentary, animations and choreography. Its protagonist is the River Emajõgi – a central symbol and feature of South Estonia – as well as the lore and history linked to it.

In a metaphorical sense, the performance evokes connections between the concepts of ‘river’ and ‘motherhood’, presenting the river as a life-giving and life-carrying force. The soundscape created for the performance by composer Märt-Matis Lill is based on nature sounds, enhanced by studio recordings by members of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The performance also features the orchestra’s percussionists, a chamber choir, soloist singers, actors, electronic instruments and a zither. Visually, it represents a mythopoetic journey from a river’s source to mouth; the narrative is conveyed as a nature documentary that observes and follows the Emajõgi from its source in Lake Pühajärv to its mouth in Lake Peipus, capturing historical changes as well as seasonal variations.

Music: MÄRT-MATIS LILL
Libretto: VALDUR MIKITA and MARGUS KASTERPALU
Nature Documentary: REMEK MEEL
Video and Animation: TAAVI VARM
Stage design and Costumes: KRISTJAN SUITS
Lighting: PRIIDU ADLAS
Movement: INGMAR JÕELA
Direction: MARGUS KASTERPALU

On Stage: IRIS OJA / ANDRES MÄHAR / ENDRIK ÜKSVÄRAV / Anna-Liisa Eller / Vambola Krigul / Anto Õnnis / Tammo Sumera / Ingmar Jõela / Steffi Pähn / Germo Toonikus / chamber choir Collegium Musicale (dir. Endrik Üksvärav)

A dedicated performance environment will be built in the Barge Hall boat-building dome on the river Emajõgi’s bank. The performance duration is 90 minutes.

Multimedia Performance Birth of the River Emajõgi is part of the Creative Nature Festival, organised by the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden in cooperation with partners across Estonia.

The festival is part of the main programme of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024. Tickets are available on Piletilevi.ee

If you want to grab a bite or need a place to stay, see what the Tartu 2024 hospitality network offers in the area: https://tartu2024.ee/recommendations-tartucity