Arvo Volmer. Photo by Kaupo Kikkas

On May 30, the council of the Estonian National Opera confirmed Arvo Volmer as the new Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera from the season 2019–2020.

„We must first find new pieces to be taken to the repertoire which are fresh but not unknown for our audience, some of the works by Verdi, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky for instance,“ says Arvo Volmer who will start his job as the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera in autumn 2019. Volmer admits that the artistic level of the Estonian National Opera is currently very high.

Arvo Volmer is one of the most acclaimed conductors in Estonia also with widespread international recognition. He is considered one of the foremost Sibelius interpreters in the world and is also highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian composers and contemporary music. He made his conducting debut in 1985 at the Estonian National Opera. From 1987 he was engaged by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and held the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in 1993–2001. In 2004–2012, Volmer was the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera and since 2004 the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Volmer has many theatre engagements outside Estonia, with regular performances at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the Finnish National Opera, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the Royal Swedish Opera, Sydney Opera House, etc.

The Chairman of the Council of the Estonian National Opera is Arne Mikk, and the Vice-Chairman is Ivari Ilja. Other members of the Council are Tarvi Sits, Mart Laidmets, Kaie Koskaru-Nelk, Riina Viiding, René Eespere, Mart Mikk, Urve Tiidus, Enn Eesmaa, and Helle-Moonika Helme.