Estonian Premieres
Estonian Festival Orchestra; Paavo Järvi – conductor
Alpha
ALPHA863
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One of Europe’s most vibrant musical cultures is that of Estonia, one of the Baltic states that gained independence after the breakup of the USSR. Known for composers such as Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür, its thriving musical culture has also given us famous conductors and ensembles. Among the conductors is Paavo Järvi, who founded the Estonian Festival Orchestra in 2011. This new recording from Alpha Classics brings us a range of new works by lesser-known Estonian composers premiered by the EFO. The opening work, To the moonlight from Tõnu Kõrvits is a wonderful evocation of night that exploits filmic textures and quotation. Helena Tulve, who works in the spectral compositional style, brings us a piece for a trio of string soloists pitted against the strings of the orchestra. Lepo Sumera’s Olympic Music I, on the other hand, engages with the folk traditions of the Baltic states, creating music that is more immediate in its impact upon the listener. An enjoyable and varied recording that paints a picture of a vibrant national musical culture.
James Nightingale