Tallinn Philharmonic Society presents a programme "Longer than a Thousand Summers" of new orchestral works by Tõnu Kõrvits on February 16, at Tallinn Methodist Church. At the concert the premiere of "Tsirgutii" (2005) for flute and string orchestra, Estonian premiere of "Safra" (2005) for piano and string orchestra and premiere of the new version of "To Its End The Day Has Come" will take place.
In addition, Kõrvits' works "...in these gardens" (2005) for alto saxophone and string orchestra, "Longer than a Thousand Summers" (2000) for flute and chamber orchestra, and "Afterglow" (2000) for string orchestra and piano will be heard. Flutist Monika Mattiesen, pianists Niklas Pokki (Finand) and Olga Kulikova, saxophonist Virgo Veldi and guitarist Ain Agan will perform with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra conducted by Risto Joost.
Tõnu Kõrvits is a composer-poet whose music is full of elevated feelings and romantic imagery. His first chamber works in neo-romantic mood became known in the beginning of the 1990ies. Today Kõrvits' music is more passionate and complex. Last years Oriental and Estonian folk song inflections can be heard in his work. Kõrvits has also written a lot of orchestral works. In 2005 he completed the first stage work – the chamber opera "My Swans, My Thoughts". Kõrvits is also known as an arranger and orchestrator of popular music, and author of film music.
Tõnu Kõrvits graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1994 with Raimo Kangro, and obtained the master's degree in 1998 with Prof. Jaan Rääts. Since 2001, Tõnu Kõrvits is a lecturer of composition and instrumentation at the Estonian Academy of Music. He also was the Composer-in-Residence with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra for the 2003/2004 concert season.