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ORCHESTRA’S BRAVE STEP INTO THE SOUND OF JAZZ
| PLAIN FACTS |
The ERSO traces it roots to December 18, 1926.
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By 1939 the Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra included only 39 performers.
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Neeme Järvi joined the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1960.
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He continued as principal conductor from 1963-1979.
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In 1975 the Orchestra was renamed the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
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In the early 1990s; nearly half of the Orchestra’s members discovered better career opportunities in the West.
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But Arvo Volmers eight seasons (1993-2001) with the ERSO proved successful.
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The ERSO has worked with recording companies like: Virgin Classics, Alba Records, BIS, Antes Edition, Globe, Signum, Ondine, Finlandia Records, Consonant Works, Melodija and others.
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In February 2004, ERSO won the Grammy Awards with Paavo Järvi conducting Sibelius Cantatas.
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Estonian National Symphony Orchestra performs music by members of the Markus Stockhausen Trio. The jazz trio is also present. Music matters.
The ERSO traces it roots to December 18, 1926, the first concert broadcast by Tallinn Radio.
By 1939 the Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra included 39 performers. In addition to radio concerts, the public enjoyed live symphonies presented by the orchestra in conjunction with guest artists from the Estonia Theatre. By 1956 the Orchestra had 90 members.
Neeme Järvi joined the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1960, where he continued as principal conductor from 1963-1979. Under Neeme Järvi’s direction, the Orchestra’s repertoire expanded markedly, as did its activities. Much to the delight of the public, concert tours became a regular part of the season; music recordings and broadcasts came alive with new vigor, also to the benefit of Estonian Radio and the record company Melodija.
In 1975 the Orchestra was renamed the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
From 1980-1990, Peeter Lilje was appointed principal conductor. Under his direction, the Orchestra continued its radio concerts as well as recorded numerous volumes of both Estonian and music from the rest of the world.
German-born Leo Krämer joined the ERSO as principal conductor for two seasons, 1991-1993. The otherwise joyous occasion of reopened Estonian borders also brought a taste of the bittersweet in the early 1990s. New opportunities also opened before our musicians; nearly half of the Orchestra’s members discovered better career opportunities in the West, or even with our neighbors to the North – the migration marking a lull in the Orchestra’s history.
By the time Arvo Volmer was made principal conductor in 1993, the Orchestra had reached a low-point. But his eight seasons (1993-2001) with the ERSO proved successful. Volmer managed to create what was in essence an almost entirely new orchestra. Also noteworthy is the tremendous work done in CD recordings during Volmer’s tenure.
For decades, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra has been the sole professional symphony orchestra in Estonia. Today the Orchestra has 100 symphonists. The average season includes 60 concerts.
The ERSO records music for Estonian Radio regularly, and has also worked with such recording companies as: Virgin Classics, Alba Records, BIS, Antes Edition, Globe, Signum, Ondine, Finlandia Records, Consonant Works, Melodija and others. In 2001 the ERSO was registered as an independent music organization.
In February 2004, ERSO won the Grammy Awards with Paavo Järvi conducting Sibelius Cantatas.
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