At the beginning of June, the Estonian National Opera, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, state concert institution Eesti Kontsert, and the Tallinn Philharmonic Society will jointly present a programme to mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of Maestro Eri Klas (June 7, 1939 – February, 26 2016). As an internationally highly acclaimed and well-respected conductor, Eri Klas had the reputation of a cultural ambassador, whose mission was to promote Estonian music and culture worldwide.
On June 5 at 7 p.m Tallinn Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Jaakko Kuusisto will perform the Suite „Rakastava“ („The Lover“) by Jean Sibelius, the Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart together with pianist Kalle Randalu and „Shaker Loops“ by John Adams at Tallinn Philharmonic Society House of Blackheads.
On June 7 at 7 p.m the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam, a long-time colleague and friend of Eri Klas, will give a concert at the Estonia Concert Hall. The programme consists of works by Richard Strauss including the tone poem „Death and Transfiguration“ („Tod und Verklärung“), „Four Last Songs“ („Vier letzte Lieder“) with soprano Helena Juntunen and the suite from „The Knight of the Rose“ („Der Rosenkavalier“) as well as the Symphony No. 298 „Stretching thoughts towards…“ by Segerstam, composed as a musical memorial for Eri Klas.
On June 8 at 7 p.m the Estonian National Opera will present its finest soloists Kristel Pärtna (soprano), Heli Veskus (soprano), Helen Lokuta (mezzo-soprano), Luc Robert (tenor, Canada), Rauno Elp (baritone), Priit Volmer (bass) and others, as well as guest performers together with the Estonian National Ballet and the Estonian National Opera Chorus and Orchestra under Jüri Alperten, Vello Pähn, Arvo Volmer and Risto Joost. Arias, duets and orchestral pieces from some of the greatest operas, operettas, and ballets will be performed at the gala concert taking place at the Estonian National Opera.
The Estonian National Opera will additionally mark the 80th anniversary of the maestro’s birth with two performances: on June 6 at 7 p.m with Giuseppe Verdi’s opera „Traviata“ (directed by Neeme Kuningas) and on June 7 at 7 p.m with Leonard Bernstein’s musical „West Side Story“ (directed by Georg Malvius). The Birgitta musical theatre festival taking place in August 2019 in Tallinn will also be dedicated to the memory of Eri Klas.
See also:
Estonian National Opera
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Tallinn Philharmonic Society