January 13, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Guest Conductor Eri Klas makes a long-awaited debut with the Oregon Symphony on a Sundays at Two concert that features music of Shostakovich and Symphony violinist Gregory Ewer performing music of Sibelius on Feb. 5 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Klas was scheduled to appear on a Sundays at Two concert two years ago that was cancelled due to inclement weather. American Airlines is the exclusive airline sponsor for the Symphony’s Sundays at Two series.
Klas is Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Artistic Director of both the Tampere Philharmonic in Finland and the Tallinn Philharmonic in Estonia. He is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Finnish National Opera and Music Advisor of the Moscow New Opera. An Estonian by birth and a noted specialist in Scandinavian music, Klas conducts Sibelius’ “Humoresques” for solo violin and orchestra with Ewer performing the solo part, along with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 and music of Estonian composer Eduard Tubin.
Ewer, who joined the Symphony two seasons ago after eight years with the Houston Grand Opera orchestra, performs the first two of Sibelius’ six “Humoresques.” These little-known works feature some of Sibelius’ best writing for violin in microcosm; they are like mini-movements of a violin concerto. Although quite short (both movements together take approximately five minutes), they demand all the virtuosity required to play a larger work.
Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1, written as a graduation exercise from the Petrograd Conservatory when Shostakovich was 19, quickly established the young composer as an important new voice in 20th century music This well-crafted symphony demonstrates all the brilliance of Shostakovich’s mature works. Its four movements veer from edgy to powerfully concentrated, full of the brittle ironies for which Shostakovich’s music is best known.
Klas begins the evening by introducing music from Estonia’s best-known composer, Eduard Tubin. His 1938 Estonian Dance Suite features dances from various regions across Estonia. Each melody, whether stately or vigorous, is presented in a manner designed to show off its unique quality.
The performance is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $16 to $22 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Customer Service Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the Group Sales hotline at (503) 416-6380. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Violinist Gregory Ewer joined the Oregon Symphony in 2001 after eight years with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. While in Houston, Ewer completed Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music performance. After receiving his Bachelor's degree from the University of Houston, Ewer served as teaching assistant to Professor Sergiu Luca while simultaneously working toward a Master's degree at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He also performed frequently with the Houston Ballet Orchestra.
An avid period instrumentalist, Ewer led the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra in HGO's 1999 period production of Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, a first of its kind in Houston. He also appeared as a soloist with Sergiu Luca, John Holloway, and Kenneth Goldsmith in a period performance of works from Antonio Vivaldi's L'Estro Armonico. Ewer performs regularly with Portland Baroque Orchestra and the Trinity Consort. A year before joining the Oregon Symphony, Ewer moved to Portland to help found the Magnolia Chamber Ensemble, a versatile group known for its period performances and commissions of new works.
Ewer's summer engagements have included performances at the Tanglewood Music Center, the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, and the Grand Teton Music Festival. Outside the classical realm, Ewer plays fiddle with the acclaimed Texas bluegrass band, Classical Grass, and the Irish ensemble, The Tulaigh Morh Trio.
Ewer recently completed a recording of the six string quintets of Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi for Cinnabar Records.
Eri Klas, a native of Estonia whose greatest musical influence was David Oistrakh, a great friend of his family, frequently guest conducts on the North American continent.
Klas made his US debut in 1991 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In 1995, he made his debuts with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony following highly successfully appearances at the Blossom and Ravinia festivals. Since then, he has appeared with most of the major North American orchestras including the Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Montreal, National, Seattle and Saint Louis symphonies and the Minnesota Orchestra.
Equally in demand throughout Europe, Klas is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra; Artistic Director of the Tampere Philharmonic in Finland and the Tallinn Philharmonic in Estonia; and Principal Guest Conductor of the Finnish National Opera; and Music Advisor of the Moscow New Opera. He has guest conducted the Berlin, Munich and Rotterdam Philharmonics and appears regularly with the Tonhalle Orchestra, the Swedish and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestras, the Stockholm and Helsinki Philharmonics as well as with orchestras in France, Italy, Belgium, Russia and Australia.
Recent and upcoming engagements in Klas’ North American schedule include guest appearances with the St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Vancouver and New Jersey symphonies and the Calgary Philharmonic. During the 2005-2006 season, he leads the Houston, Utah and Oregon symphonies as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and returns to the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his work in the Netherlands, Finland and Estonia, recent and upcoming engagements in Europe and Asia include orchestral concerts and opera productions in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Japan and Russia in St. Petersburg and with the Bolshoi Opera Orchestra in Moscow.
Klas is closely associated with leading contemporary composers. He conducted the world premiere of Alfred Schnittke’s “Peer Gynt” at the Hamburg Opera and the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, and collaborated with Natalia Gutman performing the world premiere of Schnittke’s First Cello Concerto with the Munich Philharmonic. A great champion of Estonian composers, he has conducted world premieres of works by Pärt, Tamberg, Tormis, Tubin and Eller, whose compositions he also often introduces in the US. In addition, Klas conducted the first performance of Henryk Gorecki’s Flute Concerto in Amsterdam and the US premiere of the same work with the Chicago Symphony. His discography includes Schnittke’s Third Symphony, ballet music from “Peer Gynt” and Four Violin Concerti as well as works by Sibelius on the BIS and Ondine labels. Klas’ most recent release is a CD of Orchestral works by John Corigliano with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra for Ondine.
Klas began his conducting studies at the Tallinn Conservatory and upon graduation went to St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) to work with Nikolai Rabinovich. He made his debut at the Estonian National Theatre in Tallinn in 1964 conducting Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” In 1969, he was appointed assistant conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and for the next 12 years appeared regularly on the podium to conduct the famed Bolshoi orchestra, taking part in numerous opera, ballet and orchestral productions in Moscow and on tours throughout Europe. He was named Music Director in 1975 of the Estonian National Theatre and has since become conductor laureate. Between 1985 and 1990, he was Music Director of the Royal Opera in Stockholm.
Greatly interested in the education of young musicians, Klas has worked with many international youth orchestras. He has conducted the Estonian Youth Orchestra and the Sibelius Academy Orchestra numerous times, including a tour to China with the latter. In addition, he has worked with the Irish Youth Orchestra and led the Asian Youth Orchestra on tour throughout Asia and Europe with Gidon Kremer as soloist. Klas was also a professor of conducting at the Sibelius Academy from 1993-1997.
Klas has been awarded the Order of “Nordstjernen” from His Majesty King Carl Gustav of Sweden, the Order of Finnish Lion and an honorary doctorate from the Estonian Music Academy. A former Estonian light-weight junior boxing champion, he is a member of the Estonian International Olympic Committee, Chairman of the Estonian Cultural Committee and a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNICEF.
