The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) has its origins as a small radio orchestra in 1926. The repertoire of ERSO, which has developed into the leading orchestra in Estonia, includes music from the Baroque period to premiere performances of modern works. In addition to symphonic pieces the orchestra often presents oratorial compositions. ERSO has been the first performer of the works of such world-famous Estonian composers as Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Eduard Tubin, and Lepo Sumera.

The Principal Conductors of ERSO have been Olav Roots, Roman Matsov, Neeme Järvi, Peeter Lilje, Leo Krämer, Arvo Volmer. From 2001 Nikolai Alexeev has been the Principal Conductor of ERSO. Beginning from 2002 Paavo Järvi has been active as the Artistic Adviser of the orchestra. Under the conductorship of Paavo Järvi the number and quality of the orchestra's recordings have increased considerably culminating with the Grammy Award won by the CD of Sibelius’ cantatas recorded for Virgin Classics (2003). The orchestra is regularly recording music for the Estonian Radio and has co-operated with such companies as BIS, Antes Edition, Globe, Signum, Ondine, Finlandia Records, Consonant Works and Melodija as well. The newest CDs are “Peer Gynt” by Grieg (conductor Paavo Järvi; Virgin Classics) and “Kratt” (“Goblin”) by Eduard Tubin (conductor Arvo Volmer; Alba Records).

The orchestra has toured widely throughout the world (Romania, Bulgaria, Kuwait, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Italy, Spain) and taken part in numerous music festivals at home and abroad (Europamusicale in Munich, Musiksommer in Gstaad, etc.). In the 1970s and 1980s ERSO actively toured the Soviet Union (including the Far East, and cities in Siberia and Transcaucasia) and was a regular performer in the renowned concert halls of St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) and Moscow.

At present the orchestra comprises 100 musicians and averages 60 concerts per season, with three to four new programmes a month. In addition to Estonian musicians, the orchestra performs with many renowned conductors and soloists from around the world.

In 2006 the Orchestra will celebrate its 75th anniversary. It was formed in 1931, when radio was experiencing its boom, as the Leningrad Radio Orchestra. Most of the broadcasts were live, so from the very first, the musicians had to master a complex and vast repertoire.

Many conductors such as N.Rabinovich, K.Eliasberg, S.Eltsin, E.Mravinsky, I.Mousin, A.Pazovsky, B,Khaikin, D.Pokhitonov, I.Alterman, G.Unger, P.Breuzach, D.Barbirolli, O.Frid, G.Sebastian have worked with the Orchestra. For many of them the Orchestra was an artistic laboratory where they could experiment accomplishing various creative tasks. Working with different conductors' individualities and facing the continuous expansion of the repertoire made the Orchestra mobile and flexible, so it obtained its unique image in a short time.

The war period became a legendary part of the Orchestra's history. The Orchestra was the only one to stay and perform in the besieges city of Leningrad. Its activities culminated in the performance of Schostakovich's Seventh Symphony on the 9-th of August 1942 - the day the Nazis planned to enter the captured city. The Orchestra's work during the siege became a unique monument to the irrepressible dignity of the human spirit.

After WW II, although the orchestra still worked for the radio, its live concert appearances became more and more frequent, so it was quite natural that it became part of the Leningrad Philharmonia. The Great Philharmonic Hall has been its main venue ever since. The Orchestra prepared many new programs, participated in Philharmonic subscriptions. At the same time it preserved the generic features characteristic of a radio orchestra: ability to play at sight, sensitivity and quick reaction to conductor's intent. During this period, the Orchestra was headed by N.Rabinovitch (1953-1960) and A.Yansons (1961-1968).

A new period in the Orchestra's life started in 1968 when young Yuri Temirkanov was appointed its Chief Conductor. Temirkanov who had just won the All-Union Conducting Competition was already acknowledged and loved by the Leningrad audience. He enlarged the repertoire and introduced new interpretation of classical music. The orchestra started touring abroad: first Scandinavian countries, then Europe, Japan and the USA. Its high artistic level was noted by critics. "Leningrad deserves two great orchestras, and it does have them", - newspapers wrote.

Many Russian and Western conductors such as E.Svetlanov, G.Rozhdestvensky, D.Kitaenko, A.Lazarev, F.Mansurov, P.Kletzki, L.Maazel, M.Sargent, K.Mazur, K.Esetrreicher, P.Argento, L.Segerstam. R.Bebzi, Y.-P. Tortelier etc., performed with the orchestra.

The Orchestra participated in the I.Stravinsky, B.Britten, and K.Penderecki recitals, when the great XX century composers visited Leningrad.

Many outstanding soloists willingly performed with the Orchestra because of its reputation as a sensitive accompanist. Such outstanding instrumentalists as S.Richter, E.Gilels, D.Eustrach, L.Kogan, W.Clibern, I.Stern, A.Fischer, I.Menuchin, P.Furnier, L.Marshall were among them.

In 1977, when Temirkanov left the Orchestra for the Mariinsky Theater, the post of Chief Conductor was assumed by Alexander Dmitriev - Rabinovich's pupil, a worthy inheritor of the Leningrad/St.-Petersburg conducting school traditions. His creative collaboration with the orchestra which has lasted for over two decades has proven to be extremely fruitful. The programs they prepared together included compositions that had never been performed in St.Petersburg before - Handel's Oratorio "The Power of Music", Mahler's Eighth Symphony, Preliminary Action by Scriabin-Nemtin, Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande", Tsemlinsky's "Undina" and many others. These programs were acknowledged by critics and obtained the recognition of the audience.

In 1985 the Orchestra received the honorary title of Academic for its great contribution to the national performing arts.

At present it is one of the leading symphony orchestras of Russia. Its playing is noted for its wonderful sense of ensemble and unique individualities of the leaders and soloists. The Orchestra copes easily with new repertoire and feels equally confident when playing music of varying epochs and styles.

Since its conception the Orchestra has been an active advocate of modern music. Its programmers constantly include works by R.Schedrin, A.Petrov, S.Slonimsky, B.Tischenko, G.Ustvolskaya, Yu.Falik and many others.

Many famous conductors and soloists such as Yu.Yemirkanov, M.Rostropovich, V.Gergiev, V.Sinaisky, M.Yansons, G,Sokolov, E.Virsaladze, N,Gutman, V.Tretyakov, R.Kerer, Yu.Bashmet, B.Pergamenshchikov perform with the Orchestra.

The Orchestra successfully tours abroad and participates in the international festivals held in St.Petersburg including such festivals as Arts Square, The Stars of White Nights, Musical, Spring, Christmas Meeting in Palmire of the North, Musical Olympus etc.

The Orchestra participated in the Second International Rostropovich Cellists' Congress and appeared in the gala concert dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Yu.Temirkanov's birth.

The 75th anniversary of the Orchestra is the time of its artistic maturity with renowned traditions in the past and challenging perspectives on the future.

conductor of St.Petersburg Academic Symphonic Orchestra

Was born in Leningrad in 1935, the son of a musician. He received a solid musical education at the Leningrad Conservatoire, having completed a full course in choral conducting and theory and composition. After graduating from the Conservatoire he continued his studies in conducting opera and symphony in Professor Rabinovich's master-classes.

In 1966 he won in the Second All-Union Competition of Conductors. From 1968 to 1969 he attended master-classes at the Vienna Music Academy. During 1970 he was associate conductor to Evgeny Mravinsky.

Dmitriev's musical career began early. For some ten years he directed the Symphony Orchestra of the Karel Autonomous Republic. Subsequently, he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Maly Academic Opera House in Leningrad. Since 1977 Dmitriev has held two posts: that of Chief Conductor and Artistic director to The Academic Symphony Orchestra of The St.Petersburg Philharmonia.

At present Dmitriev is one of the leading Russian conductors. In his country and abroad Dmitriev has distinguished himself as an accomplished musician, having a wide and varied repertoire, and a man of great learning. He has toured extensively both in the Russia and abroad, and in the course of these tours he has been heard in many countries: Japan, the United States of America, Austria, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Poland, France, etc. Wherever Dmitriev conducted he was the focus of attention from both professional musicians and music lovers. They are impressed by his subtle musicianship, impeccable musical taste and his adherence to profound intellectual interpretations.

Dmitriev's repertoire embraces - along with the masterpieces of the famed Russian composers Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Borodin, Glazunov, Rachmaninov and Skriabin - symphonies by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms. His artistic temperament is in concord with the music of Berlioz, Liszt and Sibelius. Therefore, his concert programmes feature compositions of virtually all epochs and styles. Dmitriev is also attracted by the rich musical resources of the 20th century. He is always alive to the nuances of modern music, and can give brilliant, sympathetic performances of modern compositions in all their originality.

At present, Alexander Dmitriev, People's Artist of the USSR, is professor at the St.Petersburg Conservatoire.

On April 8, 2005 President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin awarded Alexander Dmitriev with Order of Honour «For Merit in field of culture and art, long-term fruitful activity».

The Kaiserslautern Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1979, ranks among the most renowned, semi-professional orchestras in Germany. With 75 musicians, the ensemble has gained an excellent reputation winning the German Orchestra Competition last year.

The orchestra’s goal has always been to give talented players the opportunity to rehearse and perform challenging music.

For younger players, the orchestra provides a “training ground” for the development of orchestral techniques which might later serve them in their musical careers. Furthermore, by bringing together so many gifted men and women from Kaiserslautern and its broader environs, the orchestra serves as a cultural and social gathering place offering its players a unique opportunity to work with their colleagues  and get to know them.

The orchestra’s repertoire comprises classical, romantic and contemporary works from Mozart to Shostakovich. In weekly rehearsals the musicians prepare twelve concerts a year. They often perform together with renowned soloists, sometimes with award-winning talents from their own orchestra. The collaboration with regional choirs also forms part of their musical activities. In autumn 2005, the orchestra will perform, among others, “Te Deum” by Anton Bruckner, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and the Requiem of Gabriel Fauré.

The musicians have been on several international concert tours (USA and Sweden). As the cultural representatives of the Kaiserslautern area the orchestra’s concert tours were supported by the county of Kaiserslautern.

Since 1999, Alexander Mayer has been the conductor. Under his direction, the orchestra has gained more and more professional acceptance. Only two years later, in 2001, the first professional CD production was made with Beethoven’s 3rd symphony “Eroica”. But Alexander Mayer does not limit the musicians to symphonic works. In tribute to the importance of chamber music, he always encourages the musicians to form chamber music ensembles. Once a year, these ensembles have the opportunity to perform their music in public.

In 2004 the orchestra celebrated its 25th anniversary with four gala concerts. In one of them, they played the première of a work composed for this occasion by Tobias Schwencke, a young Berlin composer. The last concert in December was recorded and broadcast by the SWR (public broadcasting corporation of Southwest Germany).

dirigent

After his success in the 2003 Tokyo International Music Competition for

Conducting Alexander Mayer ranks among the most promising conductors of

his generation. At the Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico City in September 2003 he became one of three finalists. Born in 1973, he received several national awards yet in his youth. He started his studies at the Music Conservatory of Saarbrücken in sacral music with Leo Krämer and in orchestral conducting with Max Pommer. Early in his musical education he conducted prominent choirs of the region. He completed his studies attending master courses with Jorma Panula, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Toshiyuki Kamioka and Salvador Mas Conde.

Alexander Mayer is the founder and conductor of the chamber orchestra Ricercare, Music Director of the Orchestra and Choir of the University of Trier and the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Kaiserslautern district which won the German Orchestra Competition in 2004. Last year he conducted the Philharmonic Orchestras of Tokyo, Osaka and Luxembourg. In the next season he will debut with the Symphony Orchestra of Wuppertal and with the Academic Orchestra in Bonn. Furthermore, he will work as John Nelson’s assistant until 2008.

Along with his conducting activities, Alexander Mayer also works as a piano accompanist and organist. He gives regularly concerts with chamber music, recitals and organ music.

piano

Born in Moscow Russian pianist Alexei Lubimov today belongs to the most original musicians in the pianist section. His wide repertoire, dedication to principles and musical morals make him a most welcome exception in today's music scene.

Studying with Heinrich Neuhaus Alexei Lubimov established an early passion for both baroque music, particularly when performed on traditional instruments and 20th century composers. such as Schönberg, Webern, Stockhausen, Boulez, Ives, Ligeti, Schnittke, Gubaidulina, Silvestrov and Pärt. He premiered many contemporary pieces in Russia and founded a festival "Alternativa". He also established a quartet dedicated to baroque music during the years in the 70ties when travel limitations stopped his international career. Playing old and new music well however never stopped Alexei Lubimov from being an outstanding performer of classical and romantic repertoire as his many recordings prove.

As restrictions disappeared in the 80ties Alexei Lubimov soon stepped into the first rang of pianists giving concerts in Europe, America and Japan. He has appeared with orchestras such as Helsinki- Israel- Los Angeles- Munich and Petersburg Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic London, Russian National Orchestra, Orchestre Phil. de Radio France, Toronto Symphony or Deutsches Symphonieorchester Berlin under conductors like Ashkenazy, Järvi, Kondrashin, Hogwood, Mackerras, Norrington, Pletnev, Saraste, Salonen, Janovski or Tortelier. Examples for historic performances include concerts with the orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Wiener Akademie or Collegium Vocale Gent.

Alexei Lubimov lays another point of emphasis on chamber music and performs regularly with famous soloists at festivals all over the world.

His 1999 diary again indudes prestigious orchestra and solo concerts in Japan, the USA and Europe as well as various chamber music appearances at mainly festivals. In Germany his performances included Strawinsky, concert for piano and strings with Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and Sir Roger Norrington. For 2000 and 2003 concerts with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra and Austrian Tonkünstlerorchester are scheduled besides numerous solo performances.

Many recordings have been published by various labels such as Melodia, Erato, BIS or Sony. They feature the complete Mozart sonatas, Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms as well as music from the 20th century.

The mixed choir “Kamēr...”was founded in 1990 on the initiative of conductor Māris Sirmais. The choir, which now consists of about seventy young singers, has been acknowledged as one of the most interesting choirs in Latvia and in Europe after 15 years of artistic activity. Since 1997, Ainārs Rubiķis has been working as the second conductor of the choir too. Aina Bajāre and Ansis Sauka are the vocal coaches of the singers.

The choir has toured Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, the U.S.A. and Ireland. A busy concert schedule is an integral part of the choir’s life. “Kamēr…” have always participated in public life: singing at the President’s palace and at public occasions in Riga and other places in Latvia are some examples.

Riga Youth Choir “Kamēr...”is a holder of the Great Music Award of Latvia and has also obtained the Grand Prix of the last three All-Latvian Song Festivals as well as prizes from more than 60 international competitions – one can mention their victory at the Marktoberdorf chamber choir competition in Germany (1999), performing at Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhaus chamber music festival (2001, 2004) as well as prizes at choral competitions in Spittal an der Drau (Austria, 1999), Suwalki – Hora Cantavi 2000 (Poland), Tolosa (Spain, 1996 and 2001), Tours (France, 2003), Gorizia (Italy, 1995 and 1996) and the choir’s most valued prize, the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (2004).

In July 2001, at the 20th anniversary of Lockenhaus chamber music festival, violinist Gidon Kremer and KREMERata Baltica performed together with “Kamēr...”. The choir’s performance received great acclaim in leading Austrian newspapers. It was the first time that a choir participated in this chamber music festival. “Kamēr...”  received a number of invitations to perform together with Gidon Kremer in large European cities, and in March 2002 the plans came true: the choir performed in the Great Hall of the F.Liszt Budapest Conservatoire, in the Great Hall of Vienna Musical Society, in Bolzano concert hall, in Verdi Concert Hall in Milan, and at the “les musiques”  music festival in Basle organized by Gidon Kremer. In July 2004, “Kamēr...” visited Lockenhaus for the second time. Together with KREMERata Baltica and the noted conductor and soloist Peter Schreier, they performed Bach’s St John Passion; besides, they gave a solo concert. The choir has also been invited to participate in the Lockenhaus festival in 2005.

In 2004, in the Italian Gorizia, “Kamēr...” and Māris Sirmais won the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, thus becoming the first Latvian choir to have won this award. The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing competition is organized by the six most prestigious international choral competitions: Arezzo (Italy), Gorizia (Italy), Tolosa (Spain), Tours (France), Varna (Bulgaria), and Debrecen (Hungary). The winners of these competitions are invited to participate in the competition for the title of Europe’s best choir of the year. “Kamēr...”  had already twice been nominated and had participated in the Grand Prix competition (in 1996 and 2002); at last, the third time turned out successful.

conductor

Māris Sirmais was born in 1969. He graduated from Emīls Dārziņš Music College in Riga; then, under the guidance of Prof. Ludmila Pismennaja, he received a bachelor’s degree in choral conducting from the Music Acedemy of Latvia, and in 1996 completed his master studies there under the guidance of Prof. Imants Kokars. In 2000, Māris Sirmais studied orchestra conducting at the Graz Music Institute (Austria) with Prof. Martin Sieghart.

In 1990, M.Sirmais founded the youth choir “Kamēr...”. Under his leadership, the choir has won wide recognition in Latvia and abroad. In 1997, Sirmais was awarded his first Great Music Award of Latvia. Later, he also received this prize for artistically excellent performances with State Academic Choir “Latvija” and “Kamēr...”. From 1992 till 1997, M.Sirmais worked with the Latvia Philharmonic women’s choir “Dzintars”, which is the winner of numerous international competitions. Since 1997, M.Sirmais has been working as the artistic director and chief conductor of the Latvian State Academic Choir “Latvija”. He has co-operated with world-famous conductors, for instance, Mariss Jansons, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Tönu Kaljuste and Arturo Tamayo. M.Sirmais has performed together with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Riga Chamber Players, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, Ulm Chamber Orchestra (Sweden), KREMERata Baltica, cellist Marta Sudraba and violinist Gidon Kremer. M.Sirmais was one of the head conductors at the 22nd All﷓Latvian Song Festival in 1998, at the Song Festival dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Riga in 2001 and at the 11th Latvian Song Festival in America in 2002. At the 23rd All-Latvian Song Festival of 2003, he was the artistic director and one of the conductors of the sacred music concert. Another of his responsibilities is to oversee the activities of the choirs of Talsi region. Besides, M.Sirmais is the artistic director of the much appreciated International Sacred music festival that is organized by  State Academic Choir “Latvija” and is held every summer in Riga.

This year, M.Sirmais was once again awarded the Great Music Award of Latvia “for outstanding contribution to Latvian choral culture”. “Kamēr...” ‘s European Grand Prix was noted with an honorary diploma of the Latvian Ministry of Culture and the Award of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia.

The orchestra “Rigas Kamermuziki” was founded in 1987 at the initiative of the oboist and conductor Normunds Sne. The orchestra’s creative motivation characteristically combines four primary factors: professionalism, progressive ideas, attractive and unusual choice of repertoire, and a constant outreach for new audiences.

During the first years main focus was the music of Baroque and the studies of great classics of Vienna. Gradually emerged the second line- the orchestra increasingly included in its repertory the 20th century music.

“Rigas Kamermuziki” have always emphasised their regional adherence and sense of duty towards the new Latvian music. Such collaboration has resulted in performance of the scores by Peteris Vasks and Peteris Plakidis, Maija Einfelde and Arturs Maskats, Gustavs Fridrihsons and Rolands Kronlaks, Eriks Esenvalds and Janis Petraskevics.

The leaders of orchestra “Rigas Kamermuziki” together with colleagues from the Latvian Radio Choir and composers Peteris Vasks and Andris Dzenītis have united to create a New Music Festival called ARENA  which is gradually becoming a “hot” point in Riga’s modern music scene.

At present “Rigas Kamermuziki” variety of repertoire allows it to be somewhat flexible — appearing as required in various ensemble combinations of players: as a chamber ensemble; as a chamber orchestra; and as a medium-sized symphony orchestra.

The orchestra tours extensively throughout Latvia and also in Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and Great Britain. In autumn 1993 the ensemble performed in concerts dedicated to Latvia’s anniversary in St. Petersburg, and the Moscow Conservatoire Great hall, performing together with Gidon Kremer. In 1995 “Rigas Kamermuziki” were invited to the festival in Bergen, which evolved in a successful co-operation with the internationally noted Norwegian cellist Truls Mjork. In September 1999 “Rigas Kamermuziki” made their brilliant London debut in St. John’s, Smith Square.

Writing about the orchestra, critic Geoff Brown had this to say:

Then came the sea change. Back on stage, the players found their heart and soul with Vasks’ Musica Dolorosa . This was awork they have in their bones, and, you could feel the tension and temperature rise as the strings’ haunting and sorrowful gestures shifted and coalesced. Maskats’ Concerto Grosso Sne’s forces set to with fire and lustre. We should hear these players again.

Geoff Brown, The Times, 10.9.1999

In May 2004 “Rigas Kamermuziki” was invited to present Latvian music in EUROPAMUSICALE festival with 4 concerts (Konzerthaus Berlin, Herkulessaal München, Kurhaus Wiesbaden , Gewandhaus Leipzig) in Germany. RK has been awarded the Latvian Great Music Award three times.

In 1998, the RK and the Norwegian guitarist and composer Terje Rypdal recorded a CD for ECM (ECM New Series 1567). A new CD with contemporary Latvian music (Latvians. The 90ies) is recorded and realised. For BIS “Rigas Kamermuziki” made a recording of music by Arturs Maskats (BIS 1146).

conductor

Normunds Sne (1960) comes from family of musicians and in addition to his music studies (viola, violin and oboe), he had keep interest in radio amateur communications (He won the 1st prize in the World Championship of the radio amateur communications in May 1980), as well as played guitar and oboe in various Latvian rock and new age groups.

Sne’s teacher at the Latvian Music Academy was oboist Vilnis Pelnens; he received further education at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Tamara Fidler and in Bern with Heinz Holliger. Normunds Sne studied conducting with Yuri Simonov and Jorma Panula.

In 1987 Normunds Sne formed orchestra “Rigas Kamermuziki” and at present time is the Artistic director of this internationally renowned music organization. Being a chief of the orchestra “Rigas Kamermuziki”, Sne regularly cooperated with the Latvian National orchestra, Liepaja Symphony orchestra and currently each season produces at least one production at the Latvian National opera. He has conducted the Ostrobothnian Chamber orchestra and Osaka Philharmonic orchestra, and performed elsewhere in Europe as well as Australia.

There are two main trends in Normunds Sne interests and repertoire - the Baroque and Vienna classics; the other belongs to the great composers of the 20th century.

In spring 1999 he started new project Riga Festival Orchestra. It performs twice in a year masterpieces of the 20th century. In the past six years Normunds Sne with RFO has presented Olivier Messiaen’s grand symphonic opus Turangalila, Luciano Berio’s Symphony, music by Steve Reich and other noteworthy works.  RFO has also premiered the newest symphonic works by Pēteris Vasks, Artūrs Maskats and Maija Einfelde. These concerts have in themselves become special “events” in the Rīga music calendar and have served society at large to remind it and to keep it interested in  music of the 20th and 21st  centuries.

Normunds' skills as an orchestra-builder is established and recognized by such musicians as Mstislav Rostropovich (“I do believe that Normunds Sne is a conductor endowed with a particular gift”, Heinz Holliger, Tatyana Grindenko, Terje Rypdal ("From the very first rehearsal I found it very easy to work with Normunds Sne. He seemed to know all the right tempo nuances, all the right fermatas and so on..."). He can spent lot of time at the rehearsals and his inclination for the perfection of the performance is indefatigably.

In 2002 together with Latvia’s most progressive musicians he started ARENA – annual new music festival, highly acclaimed by critics, musicians and audience.

Together with Rigas Kamermuziki and Riga Festival Orchestra Normunds recorded CD's for BIS, BMG/Connifer and ECM labels works by Terje Rypdal and Latvian composers Peteris Vasks and Arturs Maskats. He has performed as a conductor and oboist in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Russia, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom etc. He had successful collaboration with, among others, Gidon Kremer, Mstislav Rostropovich, Tatiana Grindenko, Christian Lindberg, Nikolai Petrov, Truls O'Mjork, Lasar and Pavel Berman, Natalie Gutman, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Peter Donohoe, Dieter Flury, David Geringas, Terje Rypdal, Joe Zawinul.

He and his orchestras 6 times was awarded with Latvian Great Music Prize.

of the St.Petersburg State Philharmony

The Stravinsky Quartet was founded in 1992 and was originally named "The New Philharmonic Quartet". Since September 1999, the ensemble carries a name of the Great Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. The new name have supported St. Petersburg State Philarmony, St. The Petersburg Union of the Composers, Russian Museum and Mstislav Rostropovitch.

The Quartet has performed to great acclaim in different St. Petersburg concert venues, toured in Korea (1993), USA (1994), Japan (1994; 1997; 1998), Germany (1996), the Netherlands (1996), Switzerland (1996), Lithuania (1997), Sweden (1998), Turkey (1998, 2000) and Latvia (1999). In April 1994 the ensemble took part in " Children of Chernobyl" Charity concerts in Los-Angeles, and in June 1994 - in concerts of the "Hiroshima Bombing Victims" Foundation. This appeared to be the first Quartet in the world to play in the open air at the Nuclear Bombing Victims' Memorial in Hiroshima.

In May 1994 the Quartet took part in the St. Petersburg "Musical Spring" International Festival, and the group was invited for the next Festival in 1995. In April 1996 it was the only chamber music ensemble representing St. Petersburg musical culture during 13th European Culture Days Festival in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The Quartet was given the name of the Great Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in 1999, on the recommendation of the St. Petersburg State Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg Composers' Union, the Russian Museum and Mstislav Rostropovich.

The Quartet has played together with such prominent artists as: Bela DAVIDOVICH (piano, USA), Dmitry SITKOVETSKY (violin, GB), Boris PETRUSHANSKY (piano, Italy), Boris TISCHENKO (piano, Russia), Polina Osetinskaya (piano, Russia), Eric SALIM-MERUET (counter-tenor, GB), Yukio YOKOYAMA (piano, Japan), Neal STULBERG (piano, USA), Alexander DMITRIEV (conductor, Russia), Robert TRORY (conductor, GB). In February 1997 the group made a very successful appearance in one concert with a "Four-Stars Quartet": Gidon KREMER, Tatyana GRINDENKO, Yuri BASHMET and Mstislav ROSTROPOVITCH in frames of D.Shostakovitch's music festival at the Large Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg.

Since 1997 the Quartet is a group member of the International Society of Friends of the Russian Museum, the biggest collection of Russian Art. The Stravinsky Quartet has made several CD and Radio recordings, featuring music by Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Rachmaninov, Shostakovitch, and Andrei Petrov, as well as an original program of popular miniatures "Happy Birthday".

violin

Kolja Blacher, who was born in Berlin, attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York when he was 15 years old in order to study with Dorothy DeLay.  After that he completed his studies with Sándor Végh in Salzburg and began a remarkable solo career. In October 1999 he took on a professorship for violin and chamber music at the Hamburg Musikhochschule. 

As a soloist he was often seen performing with outstanding orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, theMunich Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.  He performed with leading conductors like Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Carlo Maria Giulini, , Vladimir Jurovsky, Daniel Harding, Mariss Jansons, Dmitrij Kitajenko, Lorin Maazel and Jonathan Nott.  Kolja Blacher cultivates a deep musical friendship with Claudio Abaddo and regularly participates in the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, which Claudio Abbado formed himself in the summer of 2003 and exists of only soloists.

Just as intensive are his chamber music partnerships with the cellist Natalia Gutman and the pianists Vassilij Lobanov and Bruno Canino, with whom he often plays trio concerts  and gives recitals. 

An extensive musical documentary, done by the station SFB Berlin,  has been devoted to Kolja Blacher.  His recording of Boris Blacher’s violin concerti was rewarded with the “Diapason d’Or” and the recording of the Hindemith “Kammermusik No. 4” under Claudio Abbado received the quarterly prize of the Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the distinction of “Best Small Ensemble Performance”.  In addition to this he has recorded the Bach Violin Concerti and his newest CD with the violin concerti from Schumann, Bartók and Holliger (together with Bruno Canino, piano) was enthusiastically welcomed by the critics.  FonoForum wrote “his recordings are not only proof of his excellence in violin technique, but are also examples of a reflecting and deep musicality”. 

The start of the season 2005/2006 begins with chamber music evenings and orchestra concerts (e.g. Elgar´s Violin Concerto together with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under Daniel Harding) at the Lucerne Festival and later on in October in Rome. Kolja Blacher travels from Sevilla to Seoul and Japan during this season performing with Vladimir Jurowski and the Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig, Markus Stenz and the Gürzenich Orchester Köln, Jonathan Nott and the Bamberger Symphoniker, Michiyoshi Enoue and the KBS Symphony Orchestra Seoul as well as Gustavo Dudamel and the NRD Radiophiharmonie Hannover. Together with his partner Bruno Canino he performs recitals in Germany, Italy and Spain. In May 2006 he makes his debut at the Accademia Santa Cecilia whose orchestra he will lead as both soloist and conductor.

Kolja Blacher plays the so-called "Tritton" Stradivari violin from 1730, which has been bought and loaned to Mr. Blacher by Ms. Kimiko Powers in connection with the Nippon Violin Museum.    

Season 2005 / 2006

soprano

Kaia Urb is one of our most sought after oratorio sopranos, at the same time also prized as chamber singer. She has grown up together with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, singing there since 1982.

Kaia Urb has participated in all noteworthy tours of the choir, in performances of the best of works by Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis and Erkki-Sven Tüür on several continents, in recordings for the famous German company ECM and others. She has been at the birth of Veljo Tormis’s masterpieces since the “Curse Upon Iron” until “Forgotten Nations”. Kaia Urb has graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory in the class of legendary Estonian soprano Elsa Maasik and furthered her studies in Stockholm with Lilian Gentele. Her repertory as soloist includes Bach’s Christmas Oratory, Passions of John, Mark and Matthew, Magnificat, Masses in B minor, BWV 223-226 and cantatas, Händel’s Messiah, Brockes-Paasion and Dixit Dominus, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Monteverdi’s Maria Vespers, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Creation and Masses, Mozart’s Litaniae Lauretanae and Masses, Mendelssohn’s Elias, Respighi’s Christmas Oratorio, Pärt’s Miserere, Passio and others.

Kaia Urb has sung under the baton of such conductors as Neeme Järvi, Juha Kangas, Saulius Sondeckis, Richard Tognetti, Paul Hillier, Andres Mustonen and others, worked together with Tallinn, Prague, Ostrobothnian, Lithuanian, Australian Chamber Orchestras, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Hortus Musicus, Hilliard Ensemble, performed at the premieres of Estonian music in various ensembles. Kaia Urb has been the laureate of Estonian Cultural Endowment in 1996 and 1998.

violin

Sigrid Kuulmann has won awards at international competitions in Estonia and Germany.  She has performed as a soloist with most Estonian orchestras, as well as with Kuopio City Orchestra in Finland.  He has recorded music for Estonian Radio and Estonian Television (incl. Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra).

Sigrid Kuulmann graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1997 in the violin class of Jüri Gerretz and Tiiu Peäske.  She continued her studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a student of Yfrah Neaman and at Robert Schumann University of Music in Duesseldorf under the guidance of Rosa Fain, a student of David Oistrakh.  Her studies were funded by the Corporation of London, British Council of the Baltic States and Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Sigrid Kuulmann has given solo recitals in England, Germany, Scandinavia and Estonia.  She has also performed as a soloist at the international music festival Europäisches Musikfest Münsterland and the prestigious Internationales Klassikfestival im Allgäu in Oberstdorf, Germany. She has taken part in several festivals in Estonia as a solo and chamber musician.  In 2004 she was given Neeme Järvi’s Young Professional Musician Award by Volvo.

organist

Jostein Aarvik received his first organ lessons with Sigmund Skage, organist at Fana church, Bergen. He continued his studies at the Music Academies in Oslo, Frankfurt am Main and Bergen studying organ, piano, conducting and church music.

From 1989-92 he was a pupil of Daniel Roth in Paris where he obtained Prix d´exellence in 1992. During this time he acted as organist in église du St. Sauveur (Paris 15). In Bergen he has held several posts as organist until he in 1998 was appointed to his present post as organist and choir master at the prestigious Fana Church.

Jostein Aarvik has earned recognition for his interpretations of  French symphonic organ repertoire and performs regularly major works of Olivier Messiaen. He frequently appears as soloist and conductor in Bergen and Norway and has performed in several European countries: Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia. In October 2000 he represented Bergen in the international organ festival in Brussels.

organ

Jaanus Torrim was born in Saaremaa in 1975. He went to the Estonian Academy of Music and graduated from Eino Tamberg’s composition class in 2000 and Rolf Uusväli’s organ class in 2002. He has attended the master courses of O. Latry, H. Gebhard, B. Haas, Ines Maidre and Sibelius Academy. In 2003 he studied at Grieg Academy in Bergen. In November 1999 Mr. Torrim became the chief organist of St. Elizabeth’s Lutheran Church in Pärnu. In 2000 he founded the Organ Fund of the church to renovate one of the biggest and finest organs in Estonia. In 2001, Mr. Torrim received the annual award of the Cultural Endowment of Pärnu County for the renovation of the organ of St. Elizabeth’s Lutheran Church and for concerts. In the same year, he also won the 3rd place at the Best Deed competition organised by Pärnu Town. On the 84th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the President gave Jaanus Torrim the Medal of the Order of the White Star.

In 1996 and 1998 the International Music Festival of Kaarli (St. Charles’s) Church was held in Tallinn. The initiator and artistic director was Jaanus Torrim. In 2003 he started Pärnu Organ Festival, acting again as the artistic director.

Mr. Torrim has also given recitals in Estonia, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Germany and the USA. He has produced several recordings for the Estonian Radio, which have resulted in 3 CDs.

violin

"The violinist Réka Szilvay is one of the greatest talents of our music world. In her playing is actually everything one could wish for: accuracy, inspiration, magnificent tone. Precision at its best." (Helsingin Sanomat)

The Finnish violinist Réka Szilvay studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki with Tuomas Haapanen and at the Vienna University of Music with Gerhard Schulz and attended master classes with Sándor Végh and György Kurtág.

Her acclaimed interpretation of the Sibelius violin concerto at her debut in the Vienna Musikverein in 1999 launched her international solo career and led to an immediate invitation to return there. She was invited by orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra St. Petersburg, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and all the Finnish Orchestras and under the batons of Valery Gergiev, Andrew Litton, Leif Segerstam, Osmo Vänskä, Mikko Franck, Adam Fischer and many others. She appeared as soloist in Barbican Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, Grosses Festspielhaus Salzburg, Kölner Philharmonie and Copenhagen Tivoli amongst others.

Chosen from the European Concert Halls Organisation as “Rising Star” of the year 2001 Réka Szilvay toured the world´s most renowned concert halls, for example Wigmore Hall London, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wiener Konzerthaus, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and Carnegie Hall New York. She appears regularly at important festivals both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, amongst others Klangbogen Wien, Helsinki Festival, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and Haydn Festspiele Eisenstadt. Several radio stations, including the BBC, Radio France, Finnish YLE and the Austrian ORF have broadcast Réka Szilvay's concerts. Finlandia Records/Warner released her debut CD “The Seven Seasons”.

Réka Szilvay plays “The Irish” Stradivarius 1702 by kind permission of the Finnish OKO Bank Art Foundation.

saxophone

Virgo Veldi was born on July 10, 1969. He graduated from Tallinn G. Ots Music School in 1988, from Estonian Music Academy in 1997 and from Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland in 2004. In 1990 Virgo Veldi won the Third prize of Estonian Republic Woodwind Competition in Tallinn. In 1994 he participated in the International Saxophone Competition held in Dinant, Belgium. In 1996 Veldi won First prize and also the audience prize at the contest “Con Brio” for young musicians in Tallinn, Estonia.

V.Veldi has been teaching saxophone at Tallinn G.Ots Music School, at Sibelius College in Finland and since 2001 is a teacher at Estonian Music Academy. Virgo Veldi has performed as a soloist with The String Orchestra of Tallinn G. Ots Music School, Estonian Music Academy Symphony Orchestra, Estonian Symphonic Variety Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Estonian Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed chamber music with different Estonian musicians.

Virgo Veldi is the musical director of saxophone quartet “SaxEst“.

"Sax quatuor "was founded in the beginning of the 90-s, when four saxophone students from the Estonian Music Academy after discovering the beauty and excitement of the sound that four saxophones playing together as a quartet produce, decided to make their own contribution. The quartet then called itself "The Estonian Music Academy saxophone-quartet". Together with the first success, the eagerness to carry on only grew, but... Estonia had just become independent from the Soviet Union and finally the young musicians had a chance to study abroad.

Virgo Veldi continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy in Finland, while Lauri Sepp had an opportunity to study at London college of music, Guildhall school of music and drama. 6 years passed, in the year 1999 3 old and one new member of the "sax quatuor" came together again to give the first performance in years. The concert was held in Pärnu townhall (a small town in the western part of Estonia).

Now the members of the "sax quatuor" are: Ivo Lille on soprano-saxophone, (Ivo is also the latest member). Virgo Veldi, who is the musical manager plays the alto saxophone. Lauri Sepp plays tenor-, and Sulev Sommer bariton saxophone. The name "sax quatuor" was chosen in honour to France as it is France where most of the repertoire for classical saxophone comes from.

Although the "sax quatuor" has been active for only about two years, the quartet has made sufficiently big excitement in Estonian music life. "Sax quatuor" has performed all over Estonia, giving concerts in concert halls with the full audiences. The "sax quatuor" is characterised by homogenous sound, wide dynamic diapason, pliancy and playfullness. The aim is to take the audience away on different musical journeys and discoveries.

The sound of "Sax quatuor" is special, with strong influences from string and piano music, which makes it possible to play transcriptions. Saxophone was not yet discovered, when Mozart, Händel and Beethoven composed their best compositions.

"Sax Quatuor" is committed in introducing Estonian saxophone music to the world and playing contemporary music.

conductor

Sakari Oramo is Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. From the start of next season he will take up the position of Principal Conductor of Kokkola Opera.

Having already held the post of Associate Principal Conductor, Sakari Oramo’s position as Chief Conductor at the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra began in September 2003. An accomplished violinist, Oramo was originally concertmaster of the orchestra, during which time he enrolled in Jorma Panula’s conducting class at the Sibelius Academy. In 1993, one year after completing the course, Oramo replaced an ailing conductor at very short notice, and the resulting concert was an unprecedented success, leading to the announcement of his appointment as Associate Principal Conductor.

After a highly successful year as Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo was subsequently appointed its Music Director in September 1999. During his five seasons with the CBSO, Sakari Oramo has taken the orchestra on tour to France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Croatia, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Japan and to the Schleswig Holstein Festival. He also visited Romania with the orchestra in September 2001 and was subsequently awarded the prize for an “outstanding performance of Enescu’s work” at the George Enescu International Festival in Bucharest, by the Romanian music magazine Actualitatea Scala.

His programmes reflect his Finnish origins, as well as exploring the English tradition through composers such as Bax, Bridge, Britten, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton and Constant Lambert. In May 2003 Oramo was Artistic Director of the CBSO’s highly-acclaimed new music festival, ‘Floof’. In June Sakari Oramo received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central England in Birmingham, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the musical life of the city.

Since his conducting debut with the Finnish Radio Symphony, Oramo has conducted regularly in Finland and throughout Scandinavia with many prestigious orchestras including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony and the Helsinki Philharmonic. Appearances elsewhere have included NDR Hamburg, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Hessischer Rundfunk, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic. Last season Oramo had a highly successful period conducting Britten’s Peter Grimes with Finnish National Opera.

Highlights of the current season include tours with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra to Germany and Switzerland, the Canary Islands and Spain, as well as performances with the New York and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras.

Sakari Oramo has a number of recordings to his credit, including several for Ondine with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. These include music by early 20th century Finnish composers, Klami and Pingoud, as well as more contemporary composers, Kaipainen and Lindberg. Three of Oramo’s recordings feature him as violinist, with the soprano Anu Komsi performing Kurtag’s Kafka-Fragments, with the Avanti! String Quartet and with the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra performing works by Magnus Lindberg. He has recorded an all-Grieg disc and, in addition, the Walton and Sibelius Violin Concertos with the CBSO and Akiko Suwanai. His recording for Hyperion of the complete Saint Saens Piano Concertos with the CBSO and Stephen Hough collected awards from Diapason d’Or, a Choc from Monde de la Musique, a 2003 Grammy nomination and Gramophone Magazine’s 2002 ‘Concerto Record of the Year’ as well as ‘Recording of the Year’. Oramo has also recorded a complete Sibelius Symphony Cycle with the CBSO for Erato, and most recently, a highly-acclaimed disc of Grieg and Sibelius songs with the CBSO and soprano Karita Matilla for Warner Classics.

violin

Tatiana Berman has been described as a young violinist with a mature and compelling musical personality. She has a broad range of solo repertoire, as well as a variety of chamber music.

Born in Moscow, Tatiana studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and then at the Royal College of Music in London with Yossi Zivoni. She has performed extensively in France, Switzerland, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Germany and UK, venues such as the Wigmore Hall, St. James's Piccadilly. Most recently Tatiana performed as part of London Arts, Buxton and Brighton Festivals in the UK. Other recent London appearances include recitals at the Royal Festival Hall, Leighton House, St. James’ Piccadilly, Southwark Cathedral as well as a performance of Bartok Violin Concerto No 1 with RCM Sinfonietta. Tatiana was the recipient of the Manoug Parikian, Sidney Perry, MBF and Craxton Awards. She is also a winner of the prestigious Ian Fleming and Myra Hess Awards in London. Tatiana has appeared on the cover of the "Musical Opinion" magazine July-August 2003 issue and was featured in the July 2004 issue.

Tatiana was a prizewinner in the International Violin Competition in Kloster Schontal, Germany in 1992 and later the same year toured Lithuania. In the following year she made a video of Mozart's Concerto no. 3 with "Mozarteum Orchestra". In 1996 Tatiana was selected as one of the soloists on the Classic FM CD issue entitled "Yehudi Menuhin's Young Virtuosi". She has performed with the "London Musici" and the Yehudi Menuhin School orchestra in the UK and Switzerland. Tatiana took part in master classes with Yehudi Menuhin, Felix Andrievsky, Mauricio Fuks, Zvi Zeitlin, and Sylvia Rosenberg.

piano

Jeroen Riemsdijk (Amersfoort, Netherlands) is a pianist with a wide repertoire. He concertizes as a soloist as well as a chamber musician and performs with musicians from all over the world. As professor on the Maastricht Conservatory of Music he has recognition as innovative pedagogue on subjects such as piano technique, sight reading for pianists, personal coaching and post graduate education for corepetition.

Except for the great Romantic repertoire as a soloist he has a lot of affinity with 20th-century music. He premiered many new works. As a chamber musician he has built an extensive repertoire over the years, notably in the field of duo repertoire for saxophone, clarinet, flute, cello, viola and singing. He has worked for many years as accompagnist at “Opera Zuid”.

His CDs include solo works by Beethoven, Liszt, and Schumann, and duo repertoire by Franck, Bartók, and Stravinsky. His collaboration with the Dutch composer Wim Zwaag is resulting in a collection of three CD’s: the 24 piano preludes (2005) which got critical acclaim, Piano trio ”Requiem” and Piano quartet ''Beyond the Misty Doors of Memory'' (2006), and the piano concerto ''Towards the Unknown Region'' (2006) with the Nürnberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ivan Anguelov.  Three other upcoming piano CD’s consist of the 24 Preludes of Shostakowich and Estonian piano music: “Southern Skies” of Urmas Sisask and the 24 “Estonian Preludes” of Jaan Rääts. His live performances and recordings are regularly broadcasted.

Jeroen Riemsdijk is the author of “Golden Fingers” (Summer 2005), a book for pianists that gives remarkable new perspectives on the technique of passage playing. He is giving lectures and master classes (this Summer in Spain) on the same subject, among others for the European Piano Teachers Association and for musician-specialized physiotherapists. The book is rooted in a Dutch tradition dating back to Dirk Schäfer and Cornelis Berkhout. In addition, he is teaching sight reading for pianists for which a new publication is imminent.

Jeroen Riemsdijk completed his studies with Ben Smits (a pupil of, among others, Clara Haskil) with highest distinction at the Zwolle Conservatory of Music and received the “Konzertdiplom” at the Folkwang Musikhochschule in Essen with Boris Bloch. He was prize winner at the Dutch Music Competition “Start ‘86” and was involved as a soloist at the Young Musicians’ Foundation founded by Sir Yehudi Menuhin.

Quotations from the introduction of “Golden fingers”:

“The goal of “Golden fingers” is to be able to play passages with delicat dynamic differences, motor ease, and effortless expression.”

“Golden fingers” offers a practical and efficient technique for pianists to improve the quality of playing passages. The “Golden fingers”-technique uses functional postures, motions and muscles which, if well understood and properly adapted, guaranty an effortless balance and coordination of the hand and arm in passage playing.”

“Using the “Golden fingers”-technique initiates a process of consciousness and  learning which makes it possible to reach a high level of physical liberation and natural playing.”

Reviews on the new released CD (2005) with 24 Preludes of Wim Zwaag:

“I like the pieces a lot and the playing is lovely and strong.  The piano sound is warm and rich. I especially like the way the voices are balanced. Very clear and very interesting. "Song" is especially beautifully played.  Bravo.”

Bennett Lerner, pianist, Professor at the Chiang Mai Music University, Thailand

“Transparent playing with a  fine technique.”

Rianne Mans, flutist, Maastricht, Netherlands

“Brilliant and flawless playing. I found the preludes surprisingly interesting and pleasant to listen to.”

Agnes Baldussir, pianist, Iceland

“Finally again something that touches me deeply!”

Manon Mommers, yoga teacher, Heerlen, Netherlands

clarinet

Arno Piters (1980) studied Clarinet and e-flat Clarinet and graduated twice with distinction, first at the Music Academy of Maastricht with Jan Cober and Willem van der Vuurst and  Afterwards at the Music Academy of Amsterdam with George Pieterson.

Since March 2004, entering at the age of 23, he holds the position for the e-flat Clarinet in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. From 2001 until 2004 Arno Piters held the post for e-flat as well as clarinet in the Dutch Radio Symphony Orchestra. Before he was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) and the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester (GMJO) and played under conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Bernard Haitink.

He performs as a soloist and chamber musician, giving concerts throughout Europe, to mention this season a tour with the Clarinet Concerto of Copland in Holland and Spain and in Luxemburg in the cadre of the Dutch presidency of the European Union. Arno Piters has made several CD recordings of works of Strawinsky and Piazolla.

violin

Born in Israel, 1983. She graduated  the "Thelma Yelin High School of Arts" and the Tel-Aviv Conservatory of Music (2001), where she studied with Mrs. Nava Milo. Kinneret finished her ‘Bachelor Degree’ (cum laude) at the Music Academy of Maastricht, Holland, with Prof. Robert Szreder (2003) and received her teaching degree from the Academy in 2004.

She has been awarded the grant of the "American-Israel Cultural Foundation" since 1999; won several times the Tel-Aviv Conservatory Competiton, and was awarded a grant from the "Nederlandse Voorziening Program" for young musicians in Holland (2001-2002). This January she received the special “Meira Geyra Audience Choice” prize in the “Aviv” Competitions 2005, in Israel.

Apart from giving recitals and playing in chamber music concerts, Kinneret also performs as a soloist with different orchestras, and have made numerous recordings for the Dutch television and the Israeli television and radio.

Among the orchestras she performed with, were the “Israeli Philharmonic Orchetsra”; the "New Israeli Chamber Ensemble"; “The Kibutzim Chamber Orchetsra”; “Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva" and the "Nederlandse Promenade Orkest". She also performed in Belgium and Holland as soloist with the Symphonic Festival Orchestra of the joined conservatories, and in Italy with “The Israeli Soloist Ensemble”.

Participated in Numerous Festivals and Master courses in the USA, Israel, Holland, Germany, Italy, Poland and France. In those events she followed lessons with many different artists, such as Miriam Fried; Itzhak Perlman; Vadim Gluzman; Shmuel Ashkenasi; Michaela Martin; Milan Vitek; Ida Handel; Roman Totenberg and Herman Krebbers.

Nowadays Kinneret studies for her ‘Master Degree’ with Prof. Robert Szreder at the Music Academy of Maastricht, and performs regularly in Holland and Abroad.

piano

She was born in Vancouver, Canada and began playing the piano at the age of three. After graduating Toho high school of music, she entered Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo where she studied with Professor Sadako Matsuoka. In 1993 she shifted to Vancouver to continued her studies under Professor Eugene Skovorodnikov.

In 1995 she received the third (3rd) prize of the international piano competition "Roma 1995" in Italy.In 1997 she admitted by the first (1st) prize at British Colombia Association of Performing Arts Festival.

In 1998 she performed the concert of SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN MUSIC FESTIVAL (recommended of Lazar Berman) with excellent reputation on the news paper of Flensburger and Lubeck.

In 1999 she gave her first concert at Budini Gattai Palace in Florence, Italy. She later performed concerts to the following cultural institutions:Istituto Universitario Europeo (S.Domenico Fiesole), Museo della Madonna del Parto (Monterchi,Arezzo), Palazzo dei Vicari Scarperia, Teatro Comunale (Florence).

In 1999 she gave her debut recital at Casals Hall in Tokyo organized by Kajimoto Concert Management with remarkable reputation on 3 music magazines in Japan.

Following her piano debut in Tokyo, she performed concerts in Japan every year thereafter;

She has been invited more than once to the Japanese broadcasts by NHK-FM national radio and television.

She has executed concerts organized by YAMAHA, KAWAI and other Japanese institutions.

In 2003 she performed the Mozart piano concerto K.467 with the Kaunas chamber orchestra under the direction of Pavel Berman. She performed a very successful tour in Japan in 2004 and has made her debut in London.

Since 1997 she studies at Florence, Italy with Valentina Berman and Lazar Berman.

www.rutsuko.com

piano

Marko Martin started his piano studies at eight. His teachers have been Lembit Orgse and Peepe Lassmann. Already in secondary school he has won several prizes at the international piano competitions in Czech Republic, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland.

In 1996-2000 Marko studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Joan Havill, where he received his Concer Recital Diploma /Premiere Prix and in 2000/2001 Performance Fellowship.

In June 1998 Marko won the 4th prize at the Gina Bachauer competition in Salt Lake City and in November 2000 he won the Esther Honens competition in Calgary, as well as special prizes in chamber music and performance of obligatory piece.

Marko has given solo recitals and performed with the orchestras in most European countries as well as in North America. In 1999 in London he performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra and in 20002 Marko gave the solo recital in Wigmore Hall.

violine

One of the most inspiring and dynamic artists on the musical scene, Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman has established himself as a performer of great depth, virtuosity and technical brilliance. Lauded by both critics and audiences, he has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, Japan, Korea and Australia as a soloist and in a duo setting with his wife, pianist Angela Yoffe.

In 1990, 16-year-old Vadim Gluzman was granted five minutes to play for the late Isaac Stern. From that meeting, a friendship was born. Mr. Stern was a great influence on Gluzman both as a musician and human being, and he had the privilege of working with Stern in Israel and the United States.

In 1994, Vadim Gluzman received the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Career Award. He now plays the extraordinary 1690 ex-Leopold Auer Stradivarius on extended loan to him through the generosity of the Stradivari Society of Chicago. “In Gluzman's hands, this Strad doesn't speak: it proclaims, sings, sighs, laughs” said the Detroit Times after his sensational début with the Detroit Symphony under Maestro Neeme Järvi. He has performed under many of the leading conductors of the day including the late Yehudi Menuhin, James de Priest, Claus Peter Flor, James Judd, Marek Janowski, Dimitri Kitayenko, Eri Klas, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Peter Oundjian, Yan Pascal Tortellier and Vladimir Verbitsky.

The summer of 2005 finds Vadim Gluzman performing in the Naumburg Concert Shell in New York’s Central Park at the opening concert celebrating the 100th Anniversary of that esteemed summer series. He returns to the David Oistrakh Festival in Parnu, Estonia for orchestral appearances and recitals, performs with Korea’s KBS Symphony in Seoul, and performs and teaches in Israel. His 2005-2006 season continues with performances with the symphony orchestras Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, Tampere Orchestra in Finland and Nancy in France. He also tours in Israel with the Israel Camerata.

Vadim Gluzman’s 2004-05 season found him performing under Paavo Järvi at Estonia’s David Oistrakh Festival followed by a tour with the Residentie Orchestra of major European cities including The Hague, Ljubljana, Budapest, Zagreb, Salzburg and Vienna’s Konzerthaus. He also performed with the Czech Philharmonic, Mainz Orchestra and the orchestras of Dresden, Lugano, Basel, Bergen, Luxembourg, Pamplona, Strassbourg and Berlin.

In July of 2003, Vadim Gluzman and Angela Yoffe collaborated with the legendary choreographer, John Neumeier, in the world premiere of composer Lera Auerbach’s 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano in adaptation for the Hamburg Ballet with additional performances in Hamburg in September 2003. Reprise performances of this work took place in Baden-Baden in autumn 2004.

Vadim Gluzman records exclusively for the BIS label.  The recording of the Preludes (written for him and Angela Yoffe), released on BIS, received rave reviews, as did their second album, featuring music by Schnittke, Vasks, Pärt, and Kancheli, which was released in spring of 2004. In July 2005 a third recital with Angela Yoffe is being recorded, featuring the Shostakovich Sonata for Piano and Violin. In summer 2006 he records the Tchaikovsky and Glazunov concertos with Andrew Litton and the Bergen Philharmonic. Vadim Gluzman also has two recordings on the Koch International Label collaborating with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by James DePriest and a solo recording with Angela Yoffe.

Vadim Gluzman was born in 1973 in the city of Zhitomir, Ukraine into a family of professional musicians, he began studying the violin at the age of seven.  Before moving to Israel in 1990, he studied with Zakhar Bron and later with Yair Kless at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv. He has also studied in the United States with Arkady Fomin and in the Juilliard School with the late Dorothy DeLay and Masao Kawasaki. 

To find out more about Vadim Gluzman please visit www.vadimgluzman.com

piano

Admired for her outstanding musicianship, extraordinary sensitivity and virtuosity, pianist Angela Yoffe has performed in the concert halls of United States, Europe, Japan and Canada.

Ms. Yoffe was born in Riga, Latvia into a family of highly respected musicians.  Her talent was recognized at the age of four when she began her music education.  Before immigrating to Israel she studied with Faina Bulavko and Ilze Graubin and later with Victor Derevianko in Tel-Aviv. Angela continued her studies in the US with Joaquin Achucarro at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She has been a piano assistant in the violin studio of Ms. Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School in New York, where she has studied chamber music with Jonathan Feldman.

Angela Yoffe has received top prizes in many competitions, including the Dvarionas International Piano Competition in Lithuania.  She also won the Edna Ocker Best Accompanist Award at the Corpus Christi International Competition.  Her extensive collaboration with violinist Vadim Gluzman has taken her to the festivals in Verbier and Lockenhaus, Festival de Radio France, Colmar, MIDEM Festival, Ravinia Festival, Pablo Casals and the Schwetzingen Festspiele.  

As a chamber musician and recitalist Angela Yoffe has performed in New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Berlin, Paris, Geneva, Rome and Tokyo.  She has also appeared with the Seattle Symphony, the Omaha Symphony and with New York’s Jupiter Symphony under the batons of Gerard Schwarz, Victor Yampolsky and the legendary Jens Nygaard.

violin

Gold Medalist of the “G.ENESCU”, “T. WRONSKI “, “JEUNESSES MUSICALES “and “URALSK-KAZAKHSTAN” Competitions , the Romanian violinist Eugene Tichindeleanu was born in 1981 in Romania in a musical family. He started playing the violin at the age of four under his father’s guidance, and at eight he already made his orchestra debut with the “M.Jora” Philharmonic in Bacau , Romania.

He is a graduate of the “G.Enescu” High-School in Bucharest under prof. M.Tomescu , N. Bilciurescu and Stefan Gheorghiu , and of the National University of Music of Bucharest. From 1997 he was active member of the “ Remember Enescu “foundation whose goal is to support young talents throughout their career and this resulted in a very intense concert life of over 500 concerts and recitals in his country and abroad. In 2000 and 2001 he was invited to study with Maestro Gerard POULET at the American Conservatory in Fontainbleau, France where he receives prizes for “ Best Violinist “, 2000 and “Best Contemporary Music Interpreter”, in 2001. He was elected by the National Association of Musicology -Artist of the year in 2003 in Romania. From 2003-2004 he was a student of Olivier CHARLIER at the National Conservatory of music in Paris, receiving also the advices of Dmitry SITKOVETSKI and J.J. KANTOROW. In the present time he is a student of Gerard POULET at the Paris Conservatory.

Eugene performed as a soloist in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Poland, U.S.A , Italy, Spain, Ukraine , Austria and highlights of the 2004-2005 season include appearances in the Newport Festival, Rhode Island, USA with three recitals, one of them being recorded and released as his debut CD, The Enescu festival, and the opening of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra’s season under the baton of maestro Dmitry SITKOVETSKI. He plays all the violin literature from Bach to Berg and from Locatelli to Lutoslawski on a Vincenzo Panormo violin.

piano

Antti Siirala was born in Helsinki in 1979 into a musical family.  He began taking piano lessons as the age of 6. He has studied with Professor Matti Raekallio at the Sibelius Academy and Professor Ivari Ilja (the Tallinn Music Academy). He has also worked with Mitsuko Uchida, Murray Perahia and Charles Rosen among others.  In Spring 2003 he was awarded a Master’s degree from the Sibelius Academy and was also named the most distinguished graduate.

Winning first prize in the Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna in 1997 marked the beginning of Siirala’s international career. The youngest contestant in the competition, he was also awarded the prize for the best performance of a late piano sonata (the Hammerklavier, op. 106). This was followed by first prize in the London International Piano Competition in spring 2000, and in May 2003 in the Dublin International Piano Competition, by unanimous decision of the jury – the first time in the history of the competition. He was also awarded the prize for the best performance of a work by Mozart. The series of competition successes culminated in autumn 2003 when he took both the first prize and the audience prize in the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

His numerous solo assignments have taken Antti Siirala to many of the European music centres: Vienna (the Musikverein and Konzerthaus), London (the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall), Milan (the Sala Verdi), Cologne (The Philharmonie), Munich (the Herkulessaal), Paris, Brussels, Berlin and St. Petersburg (the Philharmonic Hall). Siirala has also given concerts in the United States (his N.Y. debut took place in Alice Tully Hall in February 2004) and Asia (incl. Hong Kong and Tokyo). Among the many festivals he has visited are the Roque d’Anthéron piano festival, the Ruhr festival, the Marlboro Festival, and the Duszniki Chopin Festival. At home in Finland he has performed at all the major music festivals and with most of the professional orchestras.

As a soloist, Antti Siirala has worked with many celebrated conductors such as Neeme Järvi, Paavo Berglund, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Osmo Vänskä, Eri Klas, Mikko Franck, several of whom have already offered return engagements.  He has played with the Detroit Symphony, Birmingham Symphony, the Hallé, the Belgian National Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Warsaw and Krakow Philharmonic and the Finnish Radio Symphony among others.  In 2002-2003 season, he performed all five piano concertos and the Choral Fantasia by Beethoven in a series of concerts in Finland.  He regularly plays new music and has premiered works by Kalevi Aho, Uljas Pulkkis, Kuldar Sink and others.  His debut disc, Schubert Piano Transcriptions, was released 2003 on the Naxos label and the second recording of Brahms was recently published by Ondine. Both were chosen Gramophone magazine’s “Editor’s choice”.

Antti Siirala’s future engagements include performances of the complete Beethoven works for solo piano at a series of twelve concerts in Helsinki and elsewhere in Finland. Other engagements include tours with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Tonkünstler Orchestra, concerts with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Hannover Radio Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, a return recital in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall and a tour of Australia (incl. the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra).