Yes, even in northernmost Estonia, the tulips are blossoming after the longest of winters.
Time to get glassy-eyed again over the multiple bursts of lush flowers that adorn the Baltic capitals’ gardens and parks. Tulips and blossoms can crack even the stoniest of gray Baltic souls.
However, as luck would have it, the most late of springs is proving as frustratingly wet and chilly, with cold showers forecast right across the region this weekend. But cast a weary glance over these listings instead and enjoy staying indoors until the warmer weather finally sets in.
From metal to classical, there are some extreme concerts going on, as well as strip shows, banjo blues and dancing duels, so you can leave the flower-sniffing till next weekend.
LITHUANIA
Ilian Gârnet
May 8, 7 p.m.
End-of-Season Concert
National Philharmonic, Vilnius
The end-of-season concert for the Lithuanian National Philharmonic features a performance of Sibelius’ epic Violin Concerto in D minor by the 26-year-old Moldovan violinist Ilian Gârnet, who currently lives in Finland and is well acquainted with the austere landscapes that inspired the great composer.
Trakai Island Castle
May 9, 4 p.m.
Music in Trakai Castle
Island Castle, Trakai
Tchaikovsky once wrote: “Even the smallest piano piece by Schumann is imbued with extraordinary charm and genial mastery.” Marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schumann, the Vilnius String Quartet and virginal soloist Ona Kolobovaitė attempt to fill Trakai’s fairytale Island Castle with the influential composer’s charms by playing the song-cycle “Frauenliebe und leben”.
Accept
May 11, 8 p.m.
Accept
Forum Palace, Vilnius
These German speed metal pioneers may be the inspiration behind many a highly strung spray-can wielder, but they’ve actually been going for over 40 years. Only the original bass player is still a member, but their phenomenal history and inventively furious energy ensures that the another-dinosaur-plays-Vilnius label doesn’t apply.
May 12, 6 p.m.
Russian Sacred Music Festival
Rotušė (Town Hall), Vilnius
Reverentially poised choirs from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Lithuania have gathered together for the 12th annual festival of Russian sacred music, taking place through the second week of May. This is the third concert and it features choirs from Minsk, Kiev and Vilnius.
www.filharmonija.lt/en/events/12th-international-russian-sacred-music-festival/
Inculto
May 13, 7 p.m.
Inculto
Nautilus, Kaunas
Combining Latino rhythms, techno and rock, this popular local band have been chosen to represent Lithuania at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the bouncy but somewhat toothless song “Eastern European Funk”. Tonight’s event will be an emotional flag-waving and hanky-shaking sendoff.
LATVIA
Orli Strip
May 7, 7 p.m.
Orli Strip
Maskavas House, Riga
Having toured much of Europe, the vast majority of these adventurous male strippers’ audiences can testify that they‘ve departed after the show fully satisfied. As a climax, volunteers climb up on stage and enjoy a very public and very oily lap-dance. Do they go all the way? You’ll just have to go and find out.
Sinfonietta Rīga
May 7, 7:30 p.m.
Meditations and Hooliganisms for Strings
Spikeri Concert Hall, Riga
Sinfonietta Rīga weave oscillating compositions by contemporary composers, namely American John Adams, Australian Matthew Hindson and Latvian Peteris Vasks, bring to mind whirling water pools and endlessly repeating loops for string instruments. If that’s your bag then file in. Also witness a mind-bending performance by the pride of the Polish electro-acoustic music scene Michal Talma-Sutt.
www.sinfoniettariga.lv/index.php?&110
Bite’s Blues Band
May 7, 9 p.m.
Bite’s Blues Band
Klubs Barons, Riga
It’s easy and free of pretension. That’s how the Bite Blues Band describe their music. So don’t bother with dressing up. Ripped jeans? Fine. Perfect, even, for sinking into Barons’ exceedingly comfortable sofas with your partner for the evening. But book in advance, cos Barons ain’t the biggest club in the world.
May 8, 6 p.m.
We Remember
Maskavas House, Riga
This concert, almost exclusively an event for Russian speakers and their friends, is dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the day that Nazi Germany capitulated to the Soviet Union, bringing an end to the Great Patriotic War. The Baltic peoples, by contrast, celebrate May 8, or Victory in Europe Day. Look into a history book to find out why. The concert seems timed to welcome in May 9 at midnight, with thigh-slapping songs from the war and postwar years.
Iveta Apkalna
May 9, 7 p.m.
Iveta Apkalna (organ)
Dome Cathedral, Riga
Bach, Bizet, and Fauré are among the composers taken on by one of Latvia’s most talented and internationally acclaimed organists, in this rare opportunity to experience a concert live at the Riga Dome. Video projection will allow visitors to witness the feather-fingered musician perform in the spotlight.
ESTONIA
Terminaator
May 7, 22:00
Terminaator
Rock Cafe, Tallinn
Every nation on earth has its own version of Aerosmith, and Estonia is no exception. The double-a in the band’s name is a local giveaway and most of the songs are in Estonian, but the lighter-waving guitar wank remains comfortingly familiar.
Parkway Drive
May 9, 6 p.m.
Parkway Drive
Tapper Rock Club, Tallinn
This tattoo-smothered Aussie metalcore band first erupted in New South Wales with an EP called “I Killed the Prom Queen”. They then followed it up with their debut album “Killing with a Smile”. They like songs about lots of death. Support from Despised Icon (Canada) and Winds of Plague (Australia).
www.tapper.ee/events/upcoming/191/
Ichitaro
May 11, 7 p.m.
Invitation to a Duel
KUMU Auditorium
An hour-long duel is promised between dynamic dancer Dmitri Hartchenko and jugular-popping Japanese percussion courtesy of Ichitaro. Somehow, an Estonia flautist also features, perhaps to raise the alarm if something goes wrong.
J. Karjalainen
May 12, 7 p.m.
J. Karjalainen
Rock Cafe, Tallinn
Now in his fifties, this Finnish banjo-strumming singer-songwriter is known up north as the Bruce Springsteen of Finland. Expect lots of maama’s home brew of US-style blues, country and New Orleans-influenced toons.
Evita
May 14-15, 7 p.m.
Evita
Nokia Concert Hall, Tallinn
One to book for next weekend, this. Taking place in Tallinn’s spanking new world-class concert hall is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical based on the life of Eva Perón, wife of an Argentine president, as imagined by a narrator teasingly called Ché. Buy your tickets now to be bowled over by sentimentality next week.
http://www.tallinnconcerthall.com/
