The Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic will also perform in the Szczecin Philharmonic Hall, in the Theatre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and during the 22nd Music Festival on the Polish isle Uznam, amongst others.
Established in 2008, the orchestra promotes cultural and social co-operation in a historically divided region of the Baltic Sea. The musicians from or studying in the countries of the Baltic coast share their experience and knowledge, but predominantly they practice their constantly expanding repertoire, which they then take on tour around the world. In recent years the orchestra has taken part in numerous international festivals, including the Music Festival in Schleswig-Holstein and The Stars of the White Nights Festival. In 2014 the orchestra made its debut in the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall.
Kristjan Järvi, born in Tallin, left for the U.S. as a child. He graduated from the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, and decided to study conducting on the University of Michigan. His career as a conductor begun in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he worked as an assistant to Esa-Pekka Salonen. Currently, besides leading the Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic, the artist is a director of The MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, first conductor of the Gstaad Festival orchestra, and a music director of the New York-based Absolute Ensemble band (which he founded). He’s recorded more than 30 albums, for which he was rewarded with many awards, including one Grammy nomination.
Järvi co-operates with the London Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Bayerisher Rundfunk, NDR Hamburg, Franfurt Radio, Orchestre Nationale de France, Orchestre de Paris, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Rome, National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and NHK Symphony Japan. He also works with numerous famous composers and musicians, including Arvo Pärt, Tan Dun, John Adams, Esa-Pekka Salonen, H.K. Gruber, Renée Fleming, Joe Zawinul, Goran Bregovic, Paquito d’Rivera, Eitetsu Hayashi, Marcel Khalife and Benny Anderson.
Kristjan Järvi is also engaged in educational activities – besides the Baltic Sea Youth Orchestra, he established the Absolute Academy by the Bremen University for Music and Arts. He was the author of the Muusikaselts Music educational project which was carried out for children from Estonian orphanages.
Source: PAP, own materials, edit. KK, transl. Agata Dudek, 25/03/15