Free French Baroque concert at Kadriorg Palace

The concert is dedicated to François Couperin’s (1668-1733) late Rococo period. The pastoral themes of the period offer the composer a multitude of possibilities to create poetic metaphors in music. Couperin has admitted to loving whatever touches and affects him more than what surprises him. At the concert there will be performed  Couperin’s Harpsichord Suite XIV (III Book of Harpsichord Pieces) and Passacaille, also works for ensemble like Royal Concert No 4 and Apotheosis of Corelli. The latter piece

will be illustrated by a choreography created and performed by dancer, choreographer and cultural anthropologist Madli Teller. The ensemble consists of typical instruments of French baroque played by Estonian baroque musicians Reet Sukk (traverso),  Melissa Jõesaar (violin), Kaari Uus (viola da gamba), Maarja Perens (archilute) and Kristiina Are (harpsichord).

The pastoral landscape of the concert, the richly ornamented baroque hall of Kadriorg Palace, constitutes with the music, choreography and instruments an aesthetic integral whole in French style.

The concert is subsidised by the European Regional Development Fund (EMTASTRA), the Art Museum of Estonia, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

FREE ENTRANCE

www.ema.edu.ee

Kristiina Are began harpsichord studies at the Tallinn State Conservatory with professor Imbi Tarum in 1991. 1994–1998 she continued at the Erik Satie Conservatory in Paris under the supervision of the wellknown French harpsichord professor Elisabeth Joyé. Kristiina graduated in 1998 with the highest nomination 1er prix avec la félicitation du jury. Since 2016 she is devoted to her artistic doctoral research “Possibilities to create dynamics in basso continuo realization” at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Her artistic development has been influenced by many great musicians like Pierre Hantai, Edoardo Bellotti, Joel Speerstra etc.

Kristiina Are has divided her professional life between interpretating and teaching harpsichord. 1999–2009 she played in a harpsichord duo with Ene Nael. Since 2014 she has been playing with musicians who today form ensemble LaBande: Helis Naeris (mezzosoprano), Melissa Jõesaar (violin), Reet Sukk (traverso), Kaari Uus (viola da gamba), Anna-Liisa Eller (Estonian zither).

She has taught harpsichord at Historical Keyboard Playing Camp in Estonia from the very beginning, since 2000. She is the founder of harpsichord classes in the Tallinn Music High School and the School of Art and Music KAUR in Rakvere.

Kristiina Are is a board member of the Estonian Harpsichord Friends’ Society.