Tempus Balticus is a trio whose repertoire prominently features music from contemporary Baltic composers and crucial works from significant classical composers. In the programme of the Baltic & Estonian Music Days, new works by René Eespere and Kristjan Kõrver will be premiered, and a fresh piece by Ukrainian composer Karmella Tsepkolenko will be played.

Tempus Balticus is an ensemble founded in 2016, focusing on contemporary music, featuring a lot of Baltic music, and often including works from significant classics like Brahms and Beethoven. The ensemble was formed by cellist Māra Botmane, clarinetist Jānis Tretjuks, and Estonian pianist Johan Randvere. The musicians are from Latvia and Estonia, hence the Baltic Sea region plays a significant role in their identity, where exploring, enhancing, and introducing contemporary chamber music are the main goals of Tempus Balticus.

The musicians' friendship began in school, where the initial ideas for forming the ensemble emerged, but there were no opportunities to realize them. Each went their separate ways across Europe until finally, in the summer of 2016, the time and desire were found to transform their musical dreams into reality. All musicians had just returned to their homeland, full of energy and enthusiasm. The ensemble has given numerous concerts in the Baltic states and constantly creates new and interesting projects, often collaborating with other musicians. The ensemble continues with two permanent members and one constantly changing guest member, according to the artistic objectives of the program. In this programme, the guest member is the esteemed Estonian violinist Robert Traksmann.

PROGRAMME
Erkki-Sven Tüür – Dedication
Bronius Kutavičius – 8 Stasio miniatiuros
René Eespere – Consensus (esiettekanne)
Platon Buravicky – Debesziedu aromats
Karmella Tsepkolenko – Where the sky disappears (2024, esiettekanne)
Pärt Uusberg – Mõtisklusi vaimulikel radadel
Kristjan Kõrver – Uus teos (esiettekanne)
Pēteris Plakidis – Romantiska muzika

Estonian Music Days is the most important continuously held contemporary music festival in Estonia. Over the decades it has become undeniably the most significant platform for Estonian composers, new musical creations, and artistic growth. What makes the festival unique is the abundance of premieres of Estonian composers' newly commissioned works.

In 2024 Tartu is the cultural capital of Europe. Therefore the festival Estonian Music Days will join forces with three neighboring countries to become a larger event that unites Baltic and Estonian Music Days. In addition to recognized Estonian ensembles and soloists, musicians from Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland are also expected.