From 13 to 25 May, the esteemed ensemble and renowned pianist [pictured] will hold
eleven concerts of exciting and varied programmes, combining works by
Pärt and Rachmaninov alongside Dvořák, Sibelius and Thea Musgrave.
● Estonia’s most prominent orchestral ambassador, the Estonian National Symphony
Orchestra (Eesti Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester, ERSO) will perform with Irish pianist
Barry Douglas at key music venues and concert halls in Newbury (13 May), Norwich
(14 May), Birmingham (16 May), Sheffield (17 May), Warwick (18 May), Bradford (19
May), Perth (20 May), Edinburgh (21 May), Guildford (23 May) London (24 May), and
Croydon (25 May) under the baton of Music Director and Chief Conductor Olari Elts.
● The repertoire for each concert will vary, with combinations of Sergei Rachmaninov’s
Piano Concertos No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, Antonin Dvořák’s Symphonies No. 7 and No. 9,
Thea Musgrave’s Song of the Enchanter, and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5.
● Tying each programme together is a single constant: the reverent Cantus in memoriam
Benjamin Britten by Estonia’s most famous composer Arvo Pärt, which recognises a
lasting cultural connection and admiration between the UK and Estonia.
● The performance will not be the first for Barry Douglas and ERSO, who performed
together in 2020 at Mustonen festival; they will also take to the stage on 4, 5 and 10
May at the Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn, where the Orchestra is based, to perform the
UK tour programme in a three-concert finale for its 2022/2023 season.
● Barry Douglas, who has built and maintains a major international career while serving
as current Artistic Director of Camerata Ireland and Clandeboye Festival, expressed: “I
am very excited about this wonderful tour with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
and Maestro Olari Elts when we celebrate the great music of Rachmaninov. His is a supreme
artistry where sincerity, passion and zest for life moves us and uplifts the spirit of the listener.
From Opus 1 to the great 3rd Piano Concerto we see into the mind and soul of an artist and
creator of immense scope and humanity. These works are full of difficulty for everyone, not
least the pianist, but not one note is superfluous or out of place. Enjoy!”
● The unique repertoire for the concerts is the work of Olari Elts, known internationally
for his distinctive, inventive programming and who will be conducting the tour; Elts and
Douglas have also performed together in 2022. Elts expressed: “I am so very thrilled
about ERSO’s first tour to the UK! We are looking forward to visiting and discovering each of
the cities for our concerts and cannot wait to meet again with the wonderful Barry Douglas.
Estonia is one of the regional centres of innovation and, being on the crossroads between East
and West and connecting Scandinavia to Eastern Europe, our unique “Estonian sound” will
resonate with the repertoire we have carefully chosen – Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos,
Dvorak and Sibelius’s symphonies and our own Arvo Pärt!”
● Having served as Principal Guest Conductor since 2007, Olari Elts began his tenure as
Music Director and Chief Conductor of ERSO in 2020; one of his latest creations for
ERSO includes concert series Audio Spa, which offers relaxing, late night programmes.
● Elts has also been Principal Guest Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from
2007-2010, and on multiple occasions conducted the City of Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra; in the next season, he will tour Poland with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
● With their 100th anniversary approaching in 2026, the ERSO is Estonia’s oldest and
most prestigious symphony orchestra and performs with renowned conductors and
soloists from around the world, including the most prominent Estonian musicians.
● ERSO has had the honour of premiering symphonic pieces by almost every Estonian
composer, including Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Jüri Reinvere, and Eduard Tubin; the
Orchestra’s recordings have also been recognised internationally, winning several
prizes including a GRAMMY Award under the baton of Paavo Järvi.
● In February 2023, the ERSO signed the biggest sponsorship contract in its history with
Estonian fintech company Iute, who expressed their support of the Orchestra’s
mission to share Estonia’s culture and creativity internationally, with the belief that
“high-level culture, be it theatre, music, or other art form, is a sign of a strong country.”
Overview – ERSO and Barry Douglas Tour
Thursday 4 May
SYMPHONIC LUNCH VII: DOUGLAS AND RACHMANINOV Estonia Concert Hall, 1:00pm
Barry Douglas, ERSO and conductor Olari Elts preview their UK tour programme: Sergei
Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Part 1 and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9.
Friday 5 May
DOUGLAS AND RACHMANINOV Estonia Concert Hall, 7:00pm
Barry Douglas, ERSO and conductor Olari Elts preview their UK tour programme: Thea
Musgrave Song of the Enchanter, Sergei Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 and Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 5.
Wednesday 10 May
FINAL CONCERT OF THE SEASON Estonia Concert Hall, 7:00pm
Barry Douglas, ERSO and conductor Olari Elts close the Orchestra’s 2022/23 season with a
preview of their UK tour programme: Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3, and Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 7.
Saturday 13 May
ERSO IN NEWBURY St. Nicholas’ Church, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 1, and Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 9.
Sunday 14 May
ERSO IN NORWICH Theatre Royal, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3, and Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 7.
Tuesday 16 May
ERSO IN BIRMINGHAM Birmingham Symphony Hall, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3, and Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 7.
Wednesday 17 May
ERSO IN SHEFFIELD Sheffield City Hall, 7:00pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3, Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
Thursday 18 May
ERSO IN WARWICK Warwick Arts Centre, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2, Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
Friday 19 May
ERSO IN BRADFORD St. George’s Hall, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2, Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
Saturday 20 May
ERSO IN PERTH Perth Concert Hall, 7:30pm
Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2,
Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 7.
Sunday 21 May
ERSO IN EDINBURGH Usher Hall, 3:00pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 1, and Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 9.
Tuesday 23 May
ERSO IN GUILDFORD GLive, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 2, Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
Wednesday 24 May
ERSO IN LONDON Cadogan Hall, 7:30pm
Programme includes Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No. 3, Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
Thursday 25 May
ERSO IN CROYDON Fairfield Halls, 7.30pm
Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, Sergei Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2,
Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter and Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5.