PROGRAM

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

Vitellia and Sesto Duet Come ti piace – from the opera La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus)
Don Giovanni’s Serenade Deh vieni alla finestra (Come to the Window) – from the opera Don Giovanni

Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)

Isabella’s Cavatina Cruda sorte!… Amor tiranno (Cruel Fate!… Love, the Tyrant) – from the opera L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Count and Susanna Duet Crudel! Perché finora (Cruel One! Why Only Now?)
Susanna’s Aria Deh vieni, non tardar (Come, Do Not Delay)
from the opera Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)
Dorabella and Guglielmo Duet Il core vi dono (I Give You My Heart) – from the opera Così fan tutte

Gioachino Rossini

Figaro and Rosina Duet Dunque io son… tu non m’inganni? (So I Am the One?… You Are Not Deceiving Me?) – from the opera Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville)

Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848)

Pierotto and Linda Duet – from the opera Linda di Chamounix
Malatesta’s Cavatina Bella siccome un angelo (Beautiful as an Angel) – from the opera Don Pasquale

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)

Dalila’s Aria Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix (My Heart Opens to Your Voice) – from the opera Samson et Dalila

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)

Leonora’s Aria Tacea la notte placida (The Peaceful Night Lay Silent) – from the opera Il trovatore (The Troubadour)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Trio Soave sia il vento (May the Wind Be Gentle) – from the opera Così fan tutte

MARIA LISTRA is one of Estonia’s most beloved vocal artists, whose extensive artistic career spans chamber music, opera, early music, and contemporary works, seamlessly combining various forms of musical theatre and artistic expression. She graduated from Chigwell School in London (2008) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London (2011). A familiar presence on concert stages throughout Estonia, Listra has performed in major concert halls as well as intimate chamber music venues. She has appeared in numerous opera and chamber opera productions, performing both classical oratorios and contemporary chamber music with remarkable stylistic versatility. An acclaimed opera soloist, her roles include Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), for which she received a nomination from the Estonian Theatre Union, Roxane (Cyrano de Bergerac), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Linda (Kaubamaja), Franziska Cagliari (Viennese Blood), Linda (Linda di Chamounix), Mademoiselle Silberklang (The Impresario), Woman (Tulleminek), and the First Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Estonian National Opera. The performance of Estonian music occupies a central place in her artistic life. In 2019, she created the role of Lydia Koidula in the world premiere of Põldmäe’s chamber opera Emajõe ööbikud at the Tartu New Theatre. She also sang Sinikka in the world premiere of Tormis/Puur’s opera Lalli ehk mere keskel on mees at the Birgitta Festival (2022), and appeared in the premiere of Steiner/Luup’s opera Crisis (2023), both under the baton of Tõnu Kaljuste. Their collaboration continued in Nargen Opera’s production of Philip Glass’s Hydrogen Jukebox (2024). Listra has also contributed to acclaimed recordings of Estonian music, including Arvo Pärt’s L’Abbé Agathon on the ECM album Tractus (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, 2023) and Veljo Tormis’s music on the album of the same name with the VHK String Orchestra (conductor Rasmus Puur, 2022). She has maintained a long-standing collaboration with the Baroque ensemble Floridante, performing Renaissance and Baroque repertoire throughout Estonia, often interweaving the music with her own haiku poetry. Alongside her performing career, Listra regularly gives masterclasses, lectures, seminars, and private coaching on music, culture, and performance interpretation.

ANNALIISA PILLAK is a distinguished Estonian mezzo-soprano. She began her vocal studies at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music School with Ludmilla Dombrovska-Keis and continued at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, graduating in 2006 under the guidance of Anita Ollinkari. She furthered her studies at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan (with Sonia Turchetta and Sonia Dozi, 2005), with Robert Behle in Hamburg, and has participated in numerous international masterclasses. Pillak made her debut at the Estonian National Opera in the role of Sesto in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito (2006). Her extensive operatic repertoire includes Cinderella (La Cenerentola), Second Diplomat (Wallenberg), Rinaldo (Rinaldo), Nicklausse/Muse (The Tales of Hoffmann), Larina and Olga (Eugene Onegin), Kristi (The Parson of Reigi), Woman (Tulleminek), Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro), Second Lady (The Magic Flute), Dryad (Ariadne auf Naxos), Lisetta (Life on the Moon), Juula (Vanapagan), Public Opinion (Orpheus in the Underworld), Pierotto (Linda di Chamounix), Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare), Berta (The Barber of Seville) and many others. She is also a highly regarded interpreter of Lied repertoire, has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, and maintains an extensive sacred music repertoire. In 2012, she starred in Priit Piik’s experimental concert performance Diiva, which has since been performed more than 90 times at theatre and music festivals. Annaliisa Pillak is a scholarship recipient of Music Trust PLMF.

AARE SAAL is one of Estonia’s most distinguished baritones. He graduated in opera singing from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, studying with Ivo Kuusk, Virgilijus Noreika, and Jorma Hynninen, and later attended masterclasses with Giuseppe Becchi and Rolando Panerai in Italy. Saal won First Prize at the international competition Rossini and Donizetti Voices (Italy, 1996) and received the Georg Ots Award in 1997. He made his debut at the Estonian National Opera in the title role of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in 1989. He has performed more than forty opera and operetta roles at the Estonian National Opera and Vanemuine Theatre, as well as at the Latvian National Opera, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Florence City Theatre, Dramatiska Ensemble in Stockholm, and Malmö Opera. His major roles include the title characters in Verdi’s Nabucco, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin; Rigoletto, Figaro (The Barber of Seville), Escamillo (Carmen), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Don Carlo (Ernani), Rodrigo (Don Carlo), Renato (Un ballo in maschera), Amonasro (Aida), Prince Yeletsky (The Queen of Spades), Valentin (Faust), Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Marcello (La Bohème), Edwin (Die Csárdásfürstin), Achillas (Giulio Cesare), Third Guest and U.S. Soldier (Wallenberg), Severo (Poliuto), and many others. His concert repertoire encompasses a broad selection of Estonian, Russian, and Italian vocal music. In addition to performing, Saal has taught voice at the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet and has served as a vocal coach at the Rapla International Summer Academy for Singers. Aare Saal is a scholarship recipient of Music Trust PLMF.

PIIA PAEMURRU is one of Estonia’s most highly regarded collaborative pianists, particularly renowned for her work with opera singers, including Virgilijus Noreika, Jaakko Ryhänen, Margarita Voites, Mati Palm, Pille Lill, Aare Saal, Rauno Elp, Priit Volmer, Heli Veskus, Andres Mikk, Kristina Vähi, Oliver Kuusik, Maria Listra, Kai Rüütel-Pajula, Pille-Riin Jonas, Дарья Savinova, Maria Veretenina, Annaliisa Pillak, Teele Dede, Karmen Jürgens, Sigrid Laagus, Andrus Soode, Atlan Karp, Silver Breede, Taavi Tampuu, René Soom, Priit Balakin, Rasmus Kull, Rasmus Tamm and many others. Her concert career has also brought her together with leading instrumentalists such as Mari Tampere-Bezrodny, Andreas Lend, Aare Tammesalu, Vahur Veldi, and others. Paemurru completed her postgraduate studies at the Tallinn Conservatory under Professor Laine Mets in 1999. Since 1986, she has served as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. She has also worked as a répétiteur for numerous Bavarian Opera Academy masterclasses and auditions in Germany. She has received several awards for Best Collaborative Pianist at prestigious vocal competitions, including five prizes at the Klaudia Taev International Singing Competition. Since 2016, she has also worked as a répétiteur at the Vanemuine Theatre. Piia Paemurru is a scholarship recipient of Music Trust PLMF.