Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Photo: Jarek Jõepera
On October 21 and 22, concerts dedicated to the 60th birth anniversary of Peeter Lilje – the long-standing chief conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra – will take place in Pärnu and Tallinn. Estonian National Symphony Orchestra will feature pianist Kalle Randalu, soprano Janice Watson (the Great Britain), baritone Rauno Elp and Estonian Concert Choir. The program consists of Piano Concerto No. 24 in c minor KV 491 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ein deutches Requiem, Op. 45 by Johannes Brahms.
Concerts starting at 7 pm will be held on October 21 at Pärnu Concert House and October 22 at Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn. Concert in Tallinn will be broadcast live by the Estonian classical music radio Klassikaraadio.
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Peeter Lilje (1950–1993) graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory in choral conducting with Arvo Ratassepp in 1974 and from the Leningrad Conservatory in opera and symphony orchestra conducting with Arvīds and Mariss Jansons in 1980. Peeter Lilje worked as the conductor at the Estonian National Opera and from 1980–1990 served as the chief conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he also conducted Oulu and Kuopio City Orchestras in Finland and taught at the Tallinn State Conservatory. More than 30 large-scale works for voice and symphony orchestra (Brahms, Berlioz, Orff, Verdi) and extensive dramatic symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Mahler and others form a notable part of Lilje’s repertoire. |
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He has also premiered and recorded several new works by Estonian composers. Ein deutches Requiem, performed at Lilje’s commemoration concert received its Estonian premiere under the guidance of Peeter Lilje on October 29 in 1981. Among the interpreters, Peeter Lilje worked the most frequently with pianist Kalle Randalu with whom the cooperation started in 1975.
Agnes Toomla