Heiki Mätlik

b. July 16, 1955, Purila
Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians

Guitar player Heiki Mätlik is a talented and versatile musician who is well-known as a soloist but is also appreciated as an ensemble partner and a teacher. Mätlik’s wide-ranging repertoire includes both classical and contemporary music.

Heiki Mätlik studied classical guitar at the Tallinn Georg Ots Music School with Igor Klimenkov in 1975-1979 and later in Moscow under the guidance of respected guitar teacher Juri Judin. In addition to that, he has improved his skills in the master classes of David Russell in London, Angelo Gilardino in Italy and José Luis Rodrigo in Madrid.

Since 1990 Mätlik has been a guitar lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Among his pupils are Kuldar Kudu, Peeter Prints, Jelena Ossipova, Kristo Käo, Jorma Puusaag and Julia Kahro. He has given master classes in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and USA. He has been a host for TV series at Estonian Television, such as „Kitarrimängud“ (Guitar Plays) in 1981-1984 and „Kitarrikool“ (Guitar School) in 1990-1993, as well for broadcasts at the Estonian Radio. He has performed in Russian, Finnish, German and Australian TV and radio live broadcasts. Mätlik is also the author of many guitar tutorials, such as „Kitarrimängu ABC“ (Classical Guitar for Beginners), „Klassikalise Kitarrimängu Kool I-II“(Classical Guitar Method I-II), „J. S. Bachi (lauto)muusika interpretatsioon ja arranžeering“ (Interpretation of Bach’s Lute Music). In 1998 Finnish Atena Publishers published his and Hannu Annala’s encyclopedia „Kitara- ja luuttusäveltäjiä” (Guitar and Lute Composers), presenting c. 600 guitar composers, which was translated into English and published in 2003.

As a soloist and a chamber musician Mätlik has performed in the Baltic states, in Nordic and other European countries (e.g. at Stockholm Guitar Festival, Iserlohn Guitar Symposium, Gävle Guitar Festival, Tampere Guitar Festival and Espoon Kitarapäivät) and in Australia, Russia, USA and Canada. He has collaborated with several well-known Estonian and foreign vocal and instrumental soloist (Leili Tammel, Kaia Urb, Samuel Saulus, Arvo Leibur, Henry-David Varema, Urmas Vulp, Andres Uibo, Jaak Sooäär, Martin Kuuskmann, Terje Terasmaa, Per Skareng, Kari Äikäs), and with acclaimed conductors like Mika Eichenholz, Paul Mägi and Toomas Vavilov. His collaboration with flutist Jaan Õun and violinists Mati Kärmas and Ulrika Kristian for the Camerata Tallinn ensemble in 1978-1996 was of special value.

Heiki Mätlik’s rich repertoire consists of music from very different periods – there is lute music by J. S. Bach, pieces by Estonian, Spanish, Russian, Latin American and Baltic German composers and contemporary music. In his programs, one can find Max Reger’s, Paul Hindemith’s and Eugène Ysaÿe's string music arranged for guitar by Heiki Mätlik himself. On Mätliks’s initiative several Estonian composers, such as Ester Mägi, Kuldar Sink, Lepo Sumera, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Raimo Kangro, René Eespere, Peeter Vähi, Nikita Koshkin, Alo Põldmäe and Anti Marguste have composed solo and chamber music for guitar.

Mätlik has recorded more than 40 CDs and DVDs. His records have been released by Harmonia Mundi (USA), Warner Music Company (USA), Antes (Germany), Forte (Estonia), Alba Records (Finland) etc. He has also made over 1000 recordings for the Estonian Radio.
Estonian VGV Trio, consisting of Heiki Mätlik, violinist Arvo Leibur and percussionist Terje Terasmaa, made a record “Tango King Astor Piazzolla” which was named the best classical album in 2000 by the Estonian Association of the Phonogram Producers. In the cooperation with the actor Mikk Mikiver, Heiki Mätlik presented about twenty concert programmes and two CD-s combining music and poetry in 2000 and in 2002.

In 1991, Heiki Mätlik was awarded the Medal of the White Star and he also won the Estonian National Culture Award. In 1999, he was selected the Estonian Radio Musician of the Year.

© EMIC 2008

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