MAESTRO CONCERT SERIES • CONCERT SERIES 2025/2026
MAESTRO CONCERT SERIES
Great conductors in your concert hall
ERSO's 99th season opens with a new work by Tõnu Kõrvits, bringing to a close a concert season dedicated to the theme of the bell. The evening features Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu performing Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto—a remarkable piece that showcases the compositional talent, refined musical taste, and expressive pianism of the 19th century’s most celebrated female pianist. The concerto blends the virtuosic flair of its era with a poetic sensitivity that resonates with modern audiences. The concert concludes with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, conducted by Chief Conductor Olari Elts. Mezzo-soprano Sandra Laagus will be the soloist for both the symphony’s final movement.
In November, conductor Neeme Järvi welcomes renowned cellist Truls Mørk to perform Camille Saint-Saëns’s Cello Concerto No. 1—the composer’s breakthrough masterpiece and a cornerstone of the Romantic-era repertoire. Also featured is Richard Strauss’s rarely performed vocal symphony The Hours of Daylight, returning to ERSO’s stage after a 25-year absence. The program is rounded out by Strauss’s witty and energetic tone poem Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, a colorful musical tale of the mischievous peasant-trumpeter who brought joy to his townsfolk at every turn.
In February, under the baton of Olari Elts, ERSO celebrates the 120th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s birth. For the first time, the orchestra will perform the composer’s Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1. The concert also features pianist Marie-Ange Nguci as the soloist in Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1. A virtuoso with a distinctive musical voice, Nguci has already graced some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls despite her young age. The second half of the evening presents Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6, a striking emotional departure from the dramatic intensity of his Fifth Symphony. This work offers a more introspective and lyrical experience, revealing a different side of the composer’s genius.
In May, ERSO welcomes conductor Dennis Russell Davies and pianist Maki Namekawa to the stage. With a distinguished career spanning over five decades, Davies has led some of the world’s most acclaimed orchestras, festivals, and opera houses. A long-time interpreter of Arvo Pärt’s music, Davies will conduct the composer’s Symphony No. 4 Los Angeles. Maki Namekawa, known for her dedication to contemporary music, will perform Philip Glass’s Mishima Piano Concerto, inspired by the score for Paul Schrader’s film Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters.
I: Opening Concert of the Season. Mahler's Fourth
Friday, 19.09.2025 at 18:00 (pre-concert) and 19:00
Estonia Concert Hall
Tõnu Kõrvits New work
Clara Schumann Piano Concerto
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 4
ALEXANDRA DARIESCU piano, SANDRA LAAGUS mezzo-soprano, ERSO, conductor OLARI ELTS
II: Neeme Järvi and Truls Mørk. Till Eulenspiegel
Friday, 14.11.2025 at 19:00
Estonia Concert Hall
Richard Strauss The Hours of Daylight
Camille Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1
Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks
TRULS MØRK cello, Estonian National Male Choir, ERSO, conductor NEEME JÄRVI
III: Dmitri Shostakovich 120
Friday, 20. 20.02.2026 at 18:00 (pre-concert) and 19:00
Estonia Concert Hall
Dmitri Shostakovich Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 6
MARIE-ANGE NGUCI piano, EAMT Symphony Orchestra, ERSO, conductor OLARI ELTS
IV: Pärt and Glass. Dennis Russell Davies
Friday, 08.05.2026 at 19:00
Estonia Concert Hall
Philip Glass Mishima Concerto
Arvo Pärt Symphony No. 4
MAKI NAMEKAWA piano, ERSO, conductor DENNIS RUSSELL DAVIES
MAESTRO CONCERT SERIES PRICES:
Category I tickets: €120 / €90*
Category II tickets: €105 / €75*
Category III tickets: €75 / €45*
A concert series ticket includes admission to four concerts.
*Discounted prices apply to students, university students, and pensioners upon presentation of a valid ID at the ticket check.
Some Category III tickets may be for seats with limited visibility.
BY PURCHASING THE CONCERT SERIES, YOU SAVE 25% in each price category — that’s 1 concert ticket for free!
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