Migros-Culture-Percentage-Classics 180°

Its name says it all: the members of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic come from the ten countries bordering the Baltic Sea, they are young and they want to overcome borders. It is no coincidence that Kurt Masur, the figurehead of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, played an important role in the development of the ensemble, which was founded in 2008. "Uniting East and West through music and culture" is what conductor Kristjan Järvi calls the central aim of his musicians. The orchestra has already performed throughout Europe alongside stars such as Jonas Kaufmann, Martin Fröst and Jan Lisiecki. The Baltic Sea Philharmonic is also characterised by new performance ideas: They like to incorporate light and video effects into their concerts, and the musicians also play from memory. Workshops, conducting courses and school concerts round off the orchestra's educational programme.

Kristjan Järvi lives and breathes music. As a conductor, producer, composer, and arranger, he embraces creative entrepreneurship through his production company, Sunbeam Productions. Kristjan is renowned for his innovative programming and live producing. His projects include “Babylon Berlin Live”, “Bright & Black” and many film music recordings. Collaborating with artists like Tom Tykwer and Max Richter, Kristjan orchestrates projects such as Brian Eno's “Ships”. Exclusively signed with BMG Music, his latest album is “Nordic Escapes”. Kristjan Järvi continues to pioneer new paradigms in music and performances with is several groups and orchestras.

It is one of Jean Sibelius' most popular works: the 2nd Symphony, composed during a stay in Italy. All the typical characteristics of Sibelius's symphonies are concentrated in it like in a burning glass: the large thematic arcs, the long waves of ascent, dark tone colours, the constant metamorphosis of the material. For contemporary listeners, however, the Second meant much more; with its folkloristic echoes and the triumphant breakthrough in the finale, it became a symbol of the Finnish struggle for freedom - its popular nickname is the "Symphony of Independence".

Igor Stravinsky was 27 years old when he created his first major ballet score. Sergei Diaghilev, the bustling impresario of the Ballets Russes in Paris, had recognised the young man's talent and entrusted him with the composition of a specifically Russian ballet, freed from the ballast of Western traditions. The fairy tale of Tsarevich Ivan, who breaks the power of the evil sorcerer Kashtchei with the help of a miracle bird, immediately fascinated French audiences. The costumes, decorations and dance performances all played their part, as did Stravinsky's colourful, imaginative and incredibly vivid music.

The rest of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic's programme alludes to the traditions and myths of the Baltic Sea region, symbolised by the phenomenon of the midnight sun. Kristjan Järvi himself composed the eponymous "Midnight Sun" and the "Runic Prayer Remix", which is reminiscent of ritual practices and features an Estonian bagpipe. Three works, "Hollow in the tree", "The Dream of Tabu-tabu" and "Sireen", were written by members of the orchestra, and there is also music by renowned Baltic composers: the consolation song "Da pacem Domine" by Arvo Pärt and the ballad-like middle movement from the "Concertino bianco" by Georgs Pelēcis.