Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Photo: Anneli Ivaste

“The choir’s exceptionally soft and pure sound immediately stands out. The sound is transparent yet gently veiled, almost mystical.” (– La Presse)

A two-time Grammy Award winner and a recipient of a Gramophone Award, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) is one of Estonia’s most internationally acclaimed musical ensembles. Founded in 1981 by Tõnu Kaljuste, he was succeeded as Chief Conductor by Paul Hillier (2001–2007), Daniel Reuss (2008–2013), and Kaspars Putniņš (2014–2021). Since the 2021/2022 season, Tõnu Kaljuste has once again served as the choir’s Artistic Director and Chief Conductor.

The EPCC has earned widespread praise from the international music press for its unique sound, extraordinary performances combining intimacy and intensity, and distinctive interpretations of the music by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

“The quality of this concert can be summarized in one phrase: magnificent from beginning to end. The EPCC singers clearly are highly seasoned in this repertoire, evident in their unforced ensemble blend and excellent tone.“
(– St Louis Arts Scene)

Performing regularly at prestigious venues around the world, the EPCC embraces a diverse repertoire spanning a cappella programmes and large-scale choral works with its accomplished singers combining a refined ensemble sound with a command of musical styles ranging from the Baroque to contemporary works. At the heart of its repertoire is the music of Estonian composers such as Veljo Tormis, Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Tõnu Kõrvits, whose works the choir has championed internationally.

“The musicians and Kaljuste are longtime Pärt collaborators. They understand the sound, a balance of precise intonation, slightly underplayed expression, and an uncanny mix of severity, warmth, physical delicacy and emotional robustness. /…/ the playing so focused and immersive that the experience grow deeper and more gripping, note by note, until the musicians built something of their own sacred space inside Zankel.“
(– New York Classical Review)

The EPCC has collaborated with some of the most distinguished conductors and orchestras, including Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Marc Minkowski, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Stephen Layton, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, the London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Philip Glass Ensemble, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Concerto Copenhagen, the Academy of Ancient Music and Estonia’s leading orchestras.

Its international engagements have taken the EPCC to many of the world’s most prestigious stages and festivals, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonie de Paris, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wiener Konzerthaus, Barbican Centre in London, Sydney Opera House, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, BBC Proms, Salzburg’s Mozartwoche, Shanghai International Arts Festival, the International Cervantino Festival, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence etc.

“Witness the large crowds at a late-night Prom, performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the conductor Tõnu Kaljuste with understated brilliance, unexpected warmth and exquisite sound.“
(– The Times)

Photo: Anneli Ivaste

Recording has played an equally important role in the EPCC’s artistic legacy. Its extensive discography, released on labels including ECM, Harmonia Mundi, Ondine, BIS Records and Berlin Classics, has received numerous international accolades. The choir has won two Grammy Awards: for Arvo Pärt: Da Pacem with Paul Hillier in 2007 and Arvo Pärt: Adam’s Lament with Tõnu Kaljuste in 2014. Its recordings have received 16 Grammy nominations in total, as well as a Gramophone Award, Diapason d’Or, Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Danish Music Award, de Choc de l’Année Classica 2014, Prix Caecilia, and more.

“Under Kaljuste, in these performances by Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Pärt’s music is transformed into a dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio-like bold colours and contrasts, bringing music and text vividly to life.“ (– Gramophone)

In 2020, BBC Music Magazine named the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir among the ten best choirs in the world, and in 2024 Classic FM likewise placed the ensemble in its global top ten.

“This is no ordinary performance, but a collective meditation, a form of sonic Zen. Listeners are invited not merely to appreciate the mysteries of musical form, but to experience the spiritual dimension of sound.“ (–zhuanlan.zhihu.com)

People

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor

Tõnu Kaljuste

Photo: Krõõt Tarkmeel

Grammy Award-winning conductor and five-time Grammy Award nominee Tõnu Kaljuste has gained international recognition with his diverse repertoire, which ranges from operas and classical symphonic works to contemporary music. He has worked with major modernist composers of Northern and Eastern Europe, such as Alfred Schnittke, György Kurtág, Krzysztof Penderecki, Giya Kancheli, and Einojuhani Rautavaara, and is recognised as an expert interpreter and advocate of Estonian composers, including Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Tõnu Kõrvits, Veljo Tormis, and Heino Eller.

Tõnu Kaljuste has got Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for the album Arvo Pärt. Adam’s Lament in 2014. His recordings have had a number of Grammy nominations in various categories: Arvo Pärt. Te Deum (Best Choral Performance, 1994), Erkki-Sven Tüür. Crystallisatio (Best Classical Producer, 1997), Arvo Pärt. Litany (Best Classical Producer, 1997), Arvo Pärt. Kanon Pokajanen (Best Contemporary Classical Composition; Best Classical Producer, 1999), Arvo Pärt. Orient Occident (Best Classical Album, 2003), Arvo Pärt. In Principio (Best Contemporary Classical Composition, 2010), Ståle Kleiberg. David and Bathsheba (Best Opera Recording, 2014), Gesualdo (Best Classical Compendium, 2016).

In 2019 he won the International Classical Music Award for the recording of Arvo Pärt’s symphonies with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra. Kaljuste’s recordings have won also other several prestigious prizes such as Cannes Classical Award (1999), Diapason d’Or (2000), Edison Musical Award (2000), Classic BRIT Award (2003), Prix Caecilia (2023). He has recorded for the ECM Records, Virgin Classic, BIS and Caprice Records labels.

In 1981, Tõnu Kaljuste founded the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and, after a 20-year break, returned as its artistic director in August 2021. He founded the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra in 1993 and returned to be its artistic director between 2019–2024. He is the founder and artistic director of the project theatre Nargen Opera (established in 2004) and has led the Nargenfestival since 2006. Tõnu Kaljuste has conducted operas by Joseph Haydn, including L’isola disabitata, Il mondo della luna, and Armida; Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Tõnu Kaljuste has been honoured with many awards in his native Estonia: the Order of the White Star, 4th Class (1998) and the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 2nd Class (2000), the first St Mary’s Medal of St Mary’s Cathedral congregation in Tallinn (2000), Main Prize of the Culture Endowment of Estonia (2004), several national culture awards for the performance of Veljo Tormis’ music (Estonian Ballads in 2005, Estonian Women’s Songs in 2007, Estonian Men’s Songs in 2009), the interpretation award of the Estonian Council of Music (2010), Culture Award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011), the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Grand Prize (2021). He has been awarded the Eri Klas Scholarship (2021), the Honorary Badge of Harju County (2023), and the Coat of Arms Badge of Tallinn (2023). He received Estonian theatre award for the best musical production for Hydrogen Jukebox by Glass (2024). Kaljuste is the Honorary Conductor of the City of Tallinn (2024) and a laureate of the National Lifetime Achievement Award in Culture (2025).