David Oistrahhi Festival, 12. – 25. juuli, 2009, Pärnu David Oistrakh ...

Since ancient times, the Baltic sea has washed Pärnu’s shores.
Different nations have named the sea in their own way: Baltic
sea, Eastern sea, Western sea, ... This sea has historically
united us as well as separated also by drawing borders
between peoples and lands. Yet today we can see that it has
been already five years since this sea has been the inner lake
of united European nations. Sea is like music, it rings and
sings, enchants us, makes us to listen. When taking a close
look, like exploring a musical bar, it seems that we are in
Pärnu or Riga beach, but looking at the whole score, it comes
out that we are in a seaside resort of any Nordic country. We
could know the music of our neighbours better, as together
we make up the music culture of Baltic and Nordic countries
as to be a part of European cultural values.
The Oistrakh Festival has searched for new harmonies in the
music of Baltic Sea countries during recent years. This year
we implement a project „Five years of the European Union
on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea“ with the support of the
EU. We want to point out that culture is a power to unite us,
as well as our collective wealth even during the crisis’ time.
Through culture we can see our roots in Europe and by the
culture we become a part of Europe. The magic of music is in
the crossing of different harmonies and melodic movements,
it gives opportunities to find unpredictable solutions and
fresh breath, as sea wind and waves – never the same, still
always alike!
50 years ago this beautiful town on the shores of the Baltic sea
saw my first performance as a cellist. Since then only chess
playing has endangered my choice as a musician. I was the
chess champion at the age of 13, as my great idol in the youth,
Paul Keres, was exactly at the same age, too. Now, organizing
13th Oistrakh Festival, I think back to my cello teachers
Mihkel Vool, Maris Villerush, and Ivo Juul with gratitude!
Such clear-sighted and uncompromising way of looking at
life and music has remained with me since then – largely
thanks to playing chess – and that is also what the new work
by Galina Grigorjeva, “Black-and-white Prelude”, tells us
about.
It is often that the beauty of the occidental music shows
itself in the contrasts and solving of conflicts. My affection
for sacred music and spiritual values has brought many
dissonances to my own life and music, but offered also
extraordinarily exciting and interesting solutions through
cooperation with bright creative artists such as Samuel Saulus
and others. Searching for my own path and being a musical
soulmate with several composers has offered me plenty of
opportunities and delights to open up new music that I want
to share likewise at this festival.
With the final opus of the festival we would like to emphasize
that the Baltic sea and little Estonia is the crossroads of
different Christian cultures of East and West. Here are the
roots of our music and uniting – not dividing – power of
Baltic sea music and musicians!