Works by Heino Eller:
“Avarused (Wide Spaces)”, Fantasy in G minor, “Männid (Pines)”
“Lyrical Piece no. 1-2”, “Elegy” in E minor
Intermission
Prelude in G minor
“Four Pieces”
String Quartet No. 2 in F minor (premiere of the arrangement by G. J. Salumäe)

The significance of Heino Eller (1887–1970) in Estonian culture is exceptional, both in its temporal reach and its artistic depth. As a young boy, he played the violin for Karl August Hermann (1851–1909), while in his later years as a grandmaster, he taught Lepo Sumera (1950–2000). Over half a century in Tartu and Tallinn, this legendary pedagogue guided countless Estonian composers in composition, including Eduard Tubin and Arvo Pärt.

In his youth, Eller found a spiritual mentor and major inspiration in Rudolf Tobias, with whom he performed at the opening of the Vanemuine Theatre in 1906, and who encouraged him to pursue further musical studies. Around the same time, the Young Estonia (Noor-Eesti) movement was blossoming in Tartu, aiming for a systematic cultural renewal and raising questions about the mission and quality of Estonian culture. It was on this intellectual foundation that Eller emerged as the first composer to convincingly and permanently balance local identity with European sensibilities in our instrumental music. His output blends refined European modernism with a distinct Estonian core inspired by native folklore and landscapes. This concert features his crisply Nordic and captivatingly virtuoso works, performed by our leading musicians on the rare instruments of the Estonian Instrument Foundation.

Sten Lassmann

The concert is organised in cooperation with Eesti Kontsert, the Estonian Instrument Foundation and the Heino Eller Foundation.

Duration: appr. 2 h (with intermission)