Festivals

Almost everything i’ve explored hitherto from the 2026 ISCM World New Music Days has been music submitted by sections and individuals to be considered for the festival. But one of the great advantages of WNMD – and there are many – is the way it provides an opportunity for the …

Some of the most remarkable music performed during the 2026 World New Music Days came in the four concerts devoted to orchestral music.

An in previous years – and perhaps inevitably, for reasons of practicality – the majority of the concerts at this year’s World New Music Days were focused on chamber music.

Works for various forms of ensemble were explored in four concerts during this year’s World New Music Days in Bucharest.

The spectre of Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuși was brought to bear on this year’s World New Music Days in Bucharest, which took as its title, ‘Columna Infinita’. Title, not theme, and the invocation of Brâncuși’s famous sculpture therefore acted more as inference than reference point. Nonetheless, both the phrase and …

Chamber music didn’t just feature prominently at this year’s Estonian Music Days, it provided several of the festival’s most striking performances, including some of the most remarkable music i’ve heard in the 10 years i’ve been attending.

i’ve previously suggested that, for a while at least, use of the flute jet whistle in contemporary music ought to be subject to a lengthy moratorium, due to its excessive overuse. During some of the concerts at this year’s Estonian Music Days, i found myself wondering whether this should also …

Several of the concerts at this year’s Estonian Music Days were of orchestra-sized proportions. The largest of them came late in the festival, featuring the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) conducted by Olari Elts.

When i first started visiting Estonia, exactly 10 years ago, one of the first things i realised was the extent to which choral music has a special place within the country’s history and culture. At this year’s Estonian Music Days it was once again given a special place, focused upon …

For my third and final evening at Tallinn Music Week i was occupied with just a single event, hosted by the Glitch Please label. Rushing across town after an Estonian Music Days concert (words about that coming soon), i made it in time for the performance given by V4R1, the …

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To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more

To view this content, you must be a member of Simon Cummings’s Patreon at £5 or more