The Shostakovich's centennial will be marked with performances of several works, with Paavo J‹rvi conducting the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
Concerts on the Baltic Sea begin August 17 on the Silja Line ferries, featuring local musicians and several premieres. The first trip will be from Stockholm to Helsinki with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The final cruise will be on August 27 with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra led by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Unusually for a music festival, concerts will be interspersed with World Wildlife Fund conferences on illegal fishing in the Baltic Sea.
Michael Tyd_n, general manager of [Stockholm's] Berwaldhallen, said, "We are very proud to present this fourth Baltic Sea Festival, with an exciting program, cruises, concerts around the Baltic Sea, and with some of the world's foremost conductors. We are continuing our partnership with WWF and they are an important and vital part of our festival."
Those who enjoy a little activism alongside their concerts can attend the August 23 WWF seminar called "Sustainable fishing—impossible due to illegal fishing!" Further seminars will include topics such as navigation and marine reserves.
The Baltic Sea Festival is dedicated to promoting the musical development of and cooperation between the Baltic States, as well as supporting environmental initiatives surrounding the sea.