Ooper "Porgy ja Bess" • Tõrva 100 ooperipäevad

The first concert evening of the Tõrva 100 Opera Days will take place on Friday, July 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Tõrva Central Square. The audience is invited to experience a major musical programme centred around the works of composer George Gershwin.

The evening opens with the world-famous orchestral masterpiece “Rhapsody in Blue”, followed by a concert performance of the opera “Porgy and Bess”, one of the most distinctive and influential operatic works of the 20th century.

This is also a special occasion for Tõrva: Porgy and Bess was first performed here in 1998, becoming the largest open-air opera event in Estonian history. In 2026, the work returns to Tõrva as part of the city’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Performers:

• Pumeza Matshikiza – soprano (South Africa)

• Luthando Qave – baritone (South Africa)

• Dmitry Pavlov – piano (Finland)

• Collegium Musicale Chamber Choir

• Huik Mixed Choir

• Pärnu City Orchestra

• Conductor: Henri Christofer Aavik

The concert will take place in Estonia’s largest temporary indoor concert hall, specially built for the event, ensuring excellent acoustics and a weatherproof, high-quality concert experience.