February began with performing some baroque music with my good colleagues from the ensemble Floridante. The concert was part of the annual MustonenFest, a long-standing international music festival that explores music from different genres and centuries. The program is put together by the legendary violinist and founder of the 50-year-old early music ensemble Hortus Musicus,… Continue reading
By the early 1600s, the world was undergoing significant changes. Copernicus had placed the Sun at the center of the universe, Columbus had discovered America, the Church was going through the Reformation, and philosophers introduced new ideas about humanism and the individual’s role in society. As a result, rhetorics became an important part of school… Continue reading
It is not often that a theorbo player has the opportunity to premiere a contemporary piece of music that was originally composed for their instrument. However, in 2018, Estonian composer Ardo Ran Varres wrote the soundtrack for the movie “Self Made Cameraman,” directed by Hardi Volmer, and decided to incorporate the theorbo into certain sections… Continue reading
March 21st, 2015. The birthday of J.S. Bach is celebrated as the European Day of Early Music. At St Mikael’s, Tallinn. Ensemble Floridante: Meelis Orgse – baroque violin, Saale Fischer – harpsichord, Tõnu Jõesaar – viola da gamba, Kristo Käo – theorbo. Program: “Alla romana” About 50 listeners, which is pretty good considering there was another… Continue reading
Yesterday was the international day of music – 1st of Oct. On that occasion Estonian Music Council organized 147 free concerts around the country. The performers included all major orchestras, most of the important chamber ensembles and soloists. The venues ranging from schools, trains and plain to jail and mental hospital. My day started at 10:30… Continue reading
On Sat, 20th of Sep 2014 at 4:00 PM in Pärnu St Elisbeth’s we played a program with the baroque music ensemble Floridante and soprano Kai Kallastu. Members of Floridante that played in that program: Meelis Orgse (baroque violin), Saale Fischer (harpsichord), Tõnu Jõesaar (viola da gamba) and Kristo Käo (theorbo). Meelis has studied the violin… Continue reading
This summer I have to carry around three instruments because my solo program includes music for theorbo, classical and flamenco guitar. The first concert was on 27th of May at the tower of Tartu Jaani (St. John) church The first floor of tower accommodates 50 listeners and has a mystical atmosphere. And the floor is uneven,… Continue reading
I had a couple of free days in the beginning of the new year and the weather was good (no snow!). So I took a ‘little’ drive – 5000 km from Tartu to Basel and back. Took me about 30 hours to drive to Bern (visited a friend there) and 30 hours back. All because… Continue reading