| Eri Klas | |
|---|---|
 Klas in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1939-06-07)June 7, 1939 Tallinn, Estonia |
| Died | February 26, 2016(2016-02-26) (aged 76) Tallinn, Estonia |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation | Conductor |
Eri Klas (7 June 1939 – 26 February 2016) was an Estonian conductor.
Klas was born into a Jewish family in Tallinn. His mother was pianist Anna Klas. His father, Eduard Klas, was killed in 1941, during the Holocaust. Klas mainly worked in the Nordic scene, but might be best remembered for his work leading the now defunct Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra. From 1999 to 2001 Klas was music advisor to the Israel Sinfonietta Beersheba, Israel.
He premiered Alfred Schnittke's 1st Cello Concerto (Munich Philharmonic, 1986) and Peer Gynt ballet (Hamburg State Opera, 1989), and worked on the diffusion of the Estonian symphonic repertory.
Klas was also active as a pedagogue, holding professorships at the Sibelius Academy (1993–97) and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (1997 until his death), where he received an honorary doctorate.
Klas was decorated with the Order of the Lion of Finland (1992, on the occasion of Finland's 75th Independence Day) and the Estonian Order of the White Star. He was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. In 1986, he was named the People's Artist of the USSR. An Estonian lightweight junior boxing champion, he was also a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee.
From 1972 until 1991, he was married to ballet dancer, singer and actress Ülle Ulla.
References
- Eesti Entsüklopeedia, vol. 14, p. 167. (Tallinn, 2000.)
- "Ulla, Ülle – Eesti Entsüklopeedia". etbl.teatriliit.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
External links
- Estonian National Cultural Foundation page on Eri Klas
- Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra page on Eri Klas
- Jewish Community in Estonia, February 2006 bulletin
| Cultural offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byNorman Del Mar | Chief Conductor, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra 1991–1996 |
Succeeded byJames Loughran |
| Preceded byUri Mayer | music advisor, Israel Sinfonietta Beersheba 1999–2001 |
Succeeded byMenachem Nebenhaus |
| Preceded byKees Bakels | Chief Conductor, Netherlands Radio Symphony 1996–2003 |
Succeeded byHans Vonk |
| Preceded byTuomas Ollila | Chief Conductor, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 1998–2006 |
Succeeded byJohn Storgårds |
 | This article about an Estonian conductor or bandleader is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
- 1939 births
- 2016 deaths
- Musicians from Tallinn
- 20th-century Estonian Jews
- 21st-century Estonian Jews
- Estonian conductors (music)
- Estonian music educators
- 20th-century Estonian male musicians
- 20th-century Estonian musicians
- Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni
- Academic staff of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
- People's Artists of the USSR
- People's Artists of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Honoured Workers of the Arts Industry of the Estonian SSR
- Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 3rd Class
- Recipients of the Order of Friendship
- Recipients of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- Order of the Polar Star
- Estonian musician stubs
- European conductor (music) stubs