Culture.ee’s weekly recommendations: 27–30 Dec 2018

In today’s music scene, it is very difficult to define what is jazz. Many jazz musicians dream to travel back in time to the fifties, when defining jazz was very easy, it was pop music of the time. Big bands and swing orchestras played at nightclubs, people danced charleston and foxtrot. The TAFF Club’s end-of-the-year swing party does not mean a Great Gatsby style evening, but the retro vibe is still there. Good taste is taken care of by Sofia Rubina, who can be undoubtedly called the Estonian jazz diva or even prima donna.

On Thursday, December 27, the stars align just perfectly! Indrek Spungin performs for the first time in the Sveta Bar with Steve Vanoni and our prince Florian Wahl has returned from Japan. Christian-Christmas-Trap material will be presented and as a result a new performance has been born! We have also a mysterious synth pop and dark wave artist Svet Nureka on the stage, who is also making his debut in the house.

“Dreaming Tartu” (Álmodozás Tartuban) is an exhibition on photos and texts of Gabi Csutak who is the writer-in-residence of Tartu City of Literature Residency Program of UNESCO. Gabi is inspired by Tartu street art, architecture and stories. Of the thousands of photos she has taken in Tartu, she has chosen eight, which form a dreamy moment for an exhibition. The story that unites centuries and places, gives life to places and images, details and views.

The ensemble Kuradi Saar will finish the year with an additional concert in Tallinn. With this performance, a strong line is drawn under the project that started in fall and who knows … maybe it will be one of their last concerts. Kuradi Saar is a special project of Estonian musicians who have won the best rock album title and in 2017 also the best band title at the Estonian Music Awards with their band Elephants From Neptune.

The performance operates in the realm of the figure of Mademoiselle x – a semi-fictional woman who, while being alive, is convinced that she is in fact dead. She believes she has no brain, no nerves, no chest, no stomach, no intestines, being nothing more than a decomposing body. Despite this, she also believes that she is eternal and would live forever. In this realm, everything could be possible and allowed, all is a part of her and originates from her, forming a complex but uncomplicated system. Mademoiselle x steals elements from lo-fi haunted attractions that simulate the experience of entering haunted locations. Through the narrative of Mademoiselle x who lingers “in between” as living un-dead, a zombified body, the state of the performer and repetitive performing of the same shows with same material with the same motivation over again is put under observation.

2018 has been exceptionally successful year for Estonian. There have been a lot of good movie experiences in cinemas, but there’s definitely something that you missed. During the three days, Cinema Sõprus offers a selection of films and shows cinema hits from the last year, visually powerful cinematic experiences and beloved documentaries. There will be 19 Estonian movies shown during the three days.

Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava and The Estonian Association of People with Movement Disabilities are organizing a unique dance marathon on the 29th of December. Entertaining and fund-raising dance marathon invites you to dance off Christmas stress and the weight of this year while shaking off the noise of our contemporary society. The aim of a dance marathon is to celebrate movement culture while turning attention toward those who need help and hold weaker positions in society. The dancing stamina test lasts for 12 hours, through which our jury looks after keeping in accordance with the rules and assesses dancing. Every hour, a different DJ plays music and the evening is hosted by hosts whose task is also to cheer and energize our participants.

World-renowned visual artist and musician Tommy Cash presents his new album “¥€$” on December 29 at Saku Arena, bringing his largest concert he has ever held on the stage. The concert is a starting point for the 2-month-long European and Russian tour, starting in February 2019.

Hopner’s House invites you to their medieval merchant house to dance medieval dances. Külli Kressa will be teaching the dances from the 15th-17th century. During the few-hour gathering, you will learn some very simple and some quite complicated dances. Previous dance skills are not required. For dancing, we ask you to take comfortable shoes with you.

Performers include Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Dmitri Sinkovski (violin, contratenor, conductor / Russia). Programme includes music by Geminiani, Vivaldi, Brescianello, Händel.