Spotlight on Olari Elts

Following a well-received appearance at the Dublin New Music Festival, Olari Elts is now on his way for concerts in Asia. The Dublin programme, which featured works by Arvo Pärt, Unsuk Chin and others, offered a compelling example of his ability to shape programmes that are both thoughtfully constructed and rich in contrast. 

On 12 April, Elts makes his debut with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. The evening begins with Rautavaara’s evocative Cantus arcticus, followed by Bartók’s Viola Concerto, performed by Timothy Ridout. Also on the programme are Pärt’s Swansong and Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony. 

Staying in Asia, Elts then travels to China to conduct the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra. The programme there ranges from Mozart and Brahms to Sibelius and once again Pärt, offering a broad spectrum of sound and style. 

Later in the month, Elts returns to Europe for two concerts with the Staatskapelle Weimar on 27 and 28 April. Alongside Pärt and Sibelius, the programme includes Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, with cellist Alexej Stadler as soloist. Olari Elts enjoys a long-standing relationship with the Staatskapelle, with repeated invitations reflecting a close and sustained artistic collaboration. 

Since 2020, Olari Elts has held the position of Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Internationally respected for his imaginative approach to programming and his ability to draw unexpected connections between works, Elts once again demonstrates his distinctive artistic voice in this month’s concerts.