Eri Klas
Eri Klas (born in Tallinn, 1939) is an Estonian Jewish [1] conductor.
Klas has mainly worked in the Nordic scene since, but might be best known for his work leading the defunct Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra. He premiered Alfred Schnittke's 1st Cello Concerto (Munich Philharmonic, 1986) and Peer Gynt ballet (Hamburg State Opera, 1989), and has worked on the diffussion of the Estonian symphonic repertory. He is also active as a pedagogue, holding professorships at the Sibelius Academy (1993–97) and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (1997– ), where he has received an honorary doctorate.
He has been decorated the Order of the Lion of Finland (1992, on the occasion of Finland's 75th Independence Day) and the Order of the White Star, and is an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In 1986 he was named a People's Artist of the USSR. A former Estonian lightweight junior boxing champion, he is also a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee.
External links
- Estonian National Cultural Foundation page on Eri Klas
- Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra page on Eri Klas
- Jewish Community in Estonia, February 2006 bulletin
References
- ↑ "JEWISH COMMUNITY IN ESTONIA". February 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
| Cultural offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Norman Del Mar |
Chief Conductor, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra 1991–1996 |
Succeeded by James Loughran |
| Preceded by Kees Bakels |
Chief Conductor, Netherlands Radio Symphony 1996–2003 |
Succeeded by Hans Vonk |
| Preceded by Tuomas Ollila |
Chief Conductor, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 1998–2006 |
Succeeded by John Storgårds |