Roman Matsov

Roman Matsov
27.04.1917 Petrograd – 27.08.2001 Tallinn

Roman Matsov is known for Estonian audience as longtime conductor of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and also valued professor of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Roman Matsov begun music studies at age seven in Russia, where he studied violin with Voldemar Tetz and Viktor Zavetnovski and piano with Maria Barinova. In 1929 Matsov immigrated to Estonia with his mother (his father lived in Estonia since 1922). In 1936 Matsov graduated from German High School in Tallinn (Revaler Deutsche Oberrealschule) and continued 1937–1938 at Tartu University on philosophy. In 1938–1940 Matsov studied at Tallinn Conservatoire (later Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) graduating cum laude with Johannes Paulsen on violin and Theodor Lemba on piano – at graduation ceremony he played both Pyotr Tchaikovsky´s Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto No.1. In Tallinn Conservatoire Matsov also took composition lessons with Artur Kapp. In addition Roman Matsov developed his skills on violin and piano with Georg Kulenkampff and Walter Gieseking in Berlin.

In 1938–1940 Roman Matsov was violinist at State Broadcast (later Estonian Radio) Symphony Orchestra. In 1940 Matsov entered Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory and fall into army in the beninning of World War II. He got injured on battle that hard, he couldn´t continue his career as instrumentalist. In Jaroslav Matsov belonged to Estonian SSR National Art Ensemble (ensemble comprised symphony and jazz orchestras, male choir, dance group and theatre – recitals were given at rear and front battles), where he started orchestral conducting. Matsov also developed his skills on conducting in St. Peterburg, where he won II Prize at All-Union Conducting Competition in 1946.

Roman Matsov was conductor of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in 1944–1989 and principal conductor of the orchestra in 1950–1963. Since 1944 Matsov was also conducting and chamber ensemble pedagogue at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (since 1977 professor). His students include Vallo Järvi, Erich Kõlar, Endel Nõgene, Peeter Lilje, Olev Oja, Tõnu Kaljuste, Jüri Alperten, Arvo Volmer, Toomas Vavilov, Olari Elts and Jorge Patricio Viera. Matsov´s versatile repertoire comprised besides classics (especially Ludwig van Beethoven) also new works by Dmitri Shostakovich. Despite of Soviet repertoire politics, Roman Matsov succeeded to perform several spiritual large-scales by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Also works by Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, Carl Orff and other 20th century´s composers were in Estonia first performed by Roman Matsov. Matsov also introduced actively Estonian music, he was first performer and organized recordings of works by Heino Eller, Eino Tamberg, Heimar Ilves, Jaan Rääts, Arvo Pärt ect. Matsov conducted orchestras at several citys in Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and abroad (Bulgaria, Romania and Germany). In 1950–1951 Roman Matsov produced in theatre Estonia Aleksandr Borodin´s „Prince Igor“ and 1952–1953 Modest Mussorgsky „Boriss Godunov“. In 1967 Matsov was awarded Estonian SSR Folk Artist title, in 1995 Estonian National Culture Foundation prize and in 2001 The Order of the White Star, 3rd Class. Matsov´s last concert infront of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra was in April 1997, which was dedicated for his 80th birthday.

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