Lepo Sumera (1950–2000) was one of the most important figures in Estonian music after WW2. Sumera can also be considered among the most important European symphonists of his era: between 1981 and 2000 the composer wrote an impressive series of six symphonies. These dramatic and emotionally-packed works of great beauty and contrasts were greatly admired, among others, by John Adams. This new album by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Olari Elts is the first instalment in a new fascinating symphony cycle.

The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (known in Estonian as ERSO) is the longest continually operating professional orchestra of its kind in the country. The orchestra’s history dates back to 1926. Since 2020, it has been led by its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Olari Elts. The orchestra performs with renowned conductors and soloists from around the world, including Estonian musicians of the highest calibre. The orchestra’s home venue is the Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn, but it has also undertaken more than fifty concert tours and regularly given concerts in European and Scandinavian countries, appearing at many prestigious festivals including Köln, New York, Verona, Genoa, Munich, and Stockholm. With a repertoire ranging from the Baroque period to the present, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra has also given premiere performances of symphonic works by several Estonian composers, including Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Eduard Tubin, Eino Tamberg, Jaan Rääts, Lepo Sumera, Tõnu Kõrvits and Helena Tulve.

Olari Elts’s passion for distinctive programming rich with invention has earned him much praise on the international music scene. He began his tenure as Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in 2020. He was also Artistic Advisor of the Kymi Sinfonietta from 2018–2022. Elts has appeared as guest conductor with renowned orchestras, such as Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National de Lyon, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Olari Elts was Principal Guest Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra from 2007–2020 and held the same position at Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 2011–2014. He was Artistic Advisor of the Orchestre National de Bretagne from 2006–2011, Principal Guest Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 2007 to 2010, and Chief Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2006.