On December 10, at the Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn, Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Symphony No. 5 will be performed for the first time in Estonia. The work in four movements was commissioned by the Southwest German Radio and is written for symphony orchestra, big band and electric guitar. The work entwines various music styles: the academic avant-garde is complemented and enriched by the sounds and rhythms of jazz and rock.
Erkki-Sven Tüür: “Musical movements that developed independently of each other for decades have over time developed completely separate discourses in the Western cultural space. To this point, it is a rare thing for one movement to take more than a passing interest in a neighboring one. Even more uncommon is a creative and fruitful discussion.” According to the composer, the Symphony, unconventionally scored for symphony orchestra, big band and electric guitar, lays the foundation for various musical currents to have “trilateral talks in a constructive atmosphere”.
The world premiere of Tüür’s Symphony No. 5 took place on February 1, 2005, at the final concert of the New Music Festival "Eclat" in Stuttgart, the SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, the SWR Big Band and guitarist Martin Scales conducted by Olari Elts. In Estonia, the work will be performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Estonian Dream Big Band and guitarist Riho Sibul conducted by Olari Elts.