The Festival which would have been banned during the Soviet occupation could start with its events in 1993 with the help of Finnish church musicians.

The Festival aims to bring good music even to the smallest country churches in Estonia, focusing on high quality works of primarily sacred, but also of secular repertoire. The programs have included grand oratorios, performances of Estonian top-soloists, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and a lot more.

In 1997 the concert cycle spread out of the Rapla Church of Mary Magdalene and is now held in several neighboring counties as well. Hand in hand with Estonian musicians the Festival has so far hosted guest artists from Great Britain, Russia, Scandinavia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Japan and other countries.

The festival major supporters are the Local Governments’ Development Fund of the Rapla County, the Estonian Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. The founder and long time organizer of the festival was Raimo Kivistik. Since 2010 the artistic director is the renowned opera singer Pille Lill and the management was taken over by PLMF (www.plmf.ee).

Sun, July 10
7 pm Juuru Church
Juuru Parish Days’ end concert (with Juuru Organ Music Summer)
Heli Veskus - soprano
Priit Volmer - bass
Kristel Aer - organ
J. S. Bach, G. F. Händel, N. Bruhns
Free admission

Thu, July 14
7 pm Rapla Church
C-Jam Cello Camp end concert
Cello Quartet (Pärt Tarvas, Levi-Danel Mägila, Margus Uus, Andreas Lend)
and an all-Estonian youth cello band
D. Popper, R. Wagner

Fri, July 15
7 pm Velise Orthodox Church
Chamber choir Voces Musicales
Conductor Risto Joost
A. Pärt, G. Palestrina

Sat, July 16
7 pm Käru Church
Ensemble Livonoa (wind brass orbestra, Latvia)
Miks Vilsons (flute)
Elina Kuduma (oboe)
Valdis Drulle (clarinet)
Andris Ādamsons (French horn)
Intars Grīnbergs (bassoon)
Inga Šlubovska (soprano)
J. S. Bach, G. F. Händel, W. A. Mozart

Sun, July 17
7 pm Rapla Church
Estonian Academy of Sciences Female and Male Choir
Conductor Andrus Siimon
Kristel Kurik (soprano)
Aule Urb (alto)
Mikk Dede (tenor)
Olari Viikholm (bass),
Henn Eerik (organ)
A. Dvořak Mass D major for mixed choir, soloists and organ

Thu, July 21
7 pm Hageri Church
Rapla Festival’s Summer Academy end concert
Festival chamber orchestra
Conductor Jonathan Brett (UK)
Young conductors from various countries
E. Elgar’s “Serenade for string instruments”, W. A. Mozart “Little Night Music”, O. Respighi’s “Old Arias and Dance Suites Vol III”

Fri, July 22
2 pm - 6 pm Promenade near Rapla Church
Rapla Parish Days events
Free admission

Sat, July 23
7 pm Vahastu Church
“Upside” Johanson and Brothers (Kärt Johanson, Mart Johanson, Ants Johanson, Jaak Johakson and Krista Citra Joonas)

Sun, July 24
7 pm Rapla Church
Festival’s end concert
Pille Lill (soprano)
Anna-Liisa Bezrodny (violin), Daniel Nodel (violin, Belorussia)
Festival chamber orchestra,
Conductor Jonathan Brett (UK)
A. Dvorak "Serenade for string instruments"
J. Haydn "Violin Concert in C major"
J. S. Bach "Concert for Two Violins in D minor"

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