NEEME JÄRVI
Conductor

The performance will be part of “The Resurrection of Gustav Mahler”, a documentary about this work... Mr. Jarvi’s orchestra included members of the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, the Detroit Symphony and the Met Orchestra as well as scattered representatives of other ensembles, who donated their services to the project. It sounded dangerous, actually: an ad hoc ensemble is the last thing you might want for a gargantuan work like a Mahler Symphony. But it worked. /.../ Probably the most striking element of Mr. Jarvi’s reading was the ease with which he moved between Mahler’s extremes of hugeness and delicacy... (The New York Times, Apr 2006)
Neeme Jarvi conducted the New York Philharmonic in the “Lyric Symphony” on Thursday at Avery Fisher Hall... Mr. Jarvi conducted a gracious if not particularly memorable account. (The New York Times, Nov 2009)
The audience rewarded the performance with an ovation. For his final encore as music director Mr. Jarvi chose Haydn, whose 12 late symphonies he conducted during his tenure. Mr. Jarvi led a lithe, elegant rendition of the Minuet and Trio from Haydn’s Symphony No 96... (The New York Times, May 2009)

Biography

The grand man of Estonian music, Maestro Neeme Järvi − a conductor “from God” − is probably the best known Estonian musician in the world beside Arvo Pärt. It is almost impossible to fully sum up the long and prolific career of one of the most sought after conductors of our time.

Neeme Järvi has conducted 157 orchestras, held the position of chief conductor (currently chief conductor emeritus) of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Royal National Opera (currently its honorary conductor), music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (currently music director emeritus), music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (currently honorary conductor), chief conductor of the Hague Residentie-orchestra (currently chief conductor emeritus) etc. The considerable increase in the artistic level of these orchestras has greatly been his service. As has the respect from these orchestras and their ongoing wish to continue their co-operation.

His discography is likewise impressive. Among others he has recorded all symphonies by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, R. Strauss, Mahler, Dvořák, Glazunov, Grieg, Sibelius, Nielsen and Brahms.

Having served as chief conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1979, he took a difficult decision in 1980 and emigrated from the artistically oppressive USSR to the West where he made it his mission to introduce Estonian music to the world. He has conducted works by Rudolf Tobias, Artur Kapp, Heino Eller, Arvo Pärt, Eino Tamberg, Jaan Rääts, Veljo Tormis, Peeter Vähi and other Estonian composers − but first and foremost by Eduard Tubin with whom he closely collaborated artistically.

By today Neeme Järvi has re-established his contact with re-independent Estonia. In 2001, Neeme, the head of Järvi “Dynasty” together with his two sons, conductors Paavo and Kristjan, initiated the international conducting master classes in Pärnu which by today have grown into the Järvi Academy. Since 2010 Neeme Järvi has again been chief conductor and artistic director of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

Download Neeme Järvi’s bio in Estonian (PDF, 1 page)
Download pictures: drawing by Heinz Valk (2014, jpg, 300 dpi, 7.5 MB), Neeme Järvi conducts Philips Symfonie Orkest at Glasperlenspiel Festival (2015, from the archives of ERP, jpg, 300 dpi, 9 MB) 

Records released by ERP

	Double CD 100 Years of Estonian Symphony ERP 604 CD II #1, Arvo Pärt. Symphony No 3, fragm, 2 min 58 sec, mp3, 256 kbps
	CD Great Maestros I Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Beethoven, Strauss ERP 8916 R Strauss. Festive Prelude, fragm, 3 min 25 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	CD Great Maestros II Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Beethoven, Brahms ERP 9016 Beethoven. Piano Concerto No 2, fragm, 3 min 57 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	CD Great Maestros III Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Beethoven, Brahms ERP 9416
	CD Great Maestros IV Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Beethoven, Brahms ERP 9516 Beethoven. Piano Concerto No 4, Mov III, live, fragm, 3 min 29 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	CD Great Maestros V Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Beethoven, Brahms ERP 9616
	Double CD Great Maestros VI Kalle Randalu (piano), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Brahms, Britten, Mahler / Britten, Weber ERP 9817-1 and ERP 9817-2 CD 2 #6, Weber. Jubel-Ouvertüre, fragm, 2 min 40 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	GREAT MAESTROS X   New! Kalle Randalu, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Mozart, R. Strauss 2019 ERP 10619
	GREAT MAESTROS XI   New! Kalle Randalu, Guido Gualandi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Mozart, Brahms / Schönberg, Vähi 2019 ERP 10719
	Double CD Great Maestros Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Dvořák, Ravel ERP 8615 CD 2 #12, Ravel. Boléro, fragm, 7 min 31 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	CD Toivo Nahkur, Neeme Järvi Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Tchaikovsky, Beethoven ERP 4410 Tchaikovsky. Piano Concerto No 2, Mov I, fragm, 2 min 51 sec, mp3
	11-CD-set Estonian National Opera 100 (Archive recordings) Estonian National Opera, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), Georg Ots, Kalju Karask, Teo Maiste, Urve Tauts, Margarita Voites, Tiit Kuusik, Mati Palm... Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donizetti ERP 906 CD 2 #17. Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro, Figaro’s aria, fragm, Georg Ots, mono, 2 min 44 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	LP (vinyl) Contra aut pro? Archive recordings Toomas Velmet (cello), Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra Pärt ERP 10017 Arvo Pärt. Cello Concerto Pro et contra, fragm, mono, 3 min 14 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps
	DVD A Legend of Estonia Georg Ots, Estonian National Opera Verdi, Mozart ERP 9216

Listen also to the live recordings of Neeme Järvi on the site www.erpmusiclive.com.

Media release

The Beethoven concerto is perfectly conducted, with plenty of zest and spirit. The pianist is excellent, but of course he isn’t Sviatoslav Richter − but who is? /.../ That RCA recording will never be matched − but this one comes close, and if you don’t know that old recording you will find this new one outstanding. Both Strauss pieces are also superb. The organ in the Estonian Concert Hall in Tallinn doesn’t sound “new”, but it is probably close enough to what Strauss heard in Vienna when he led the premiere of the Festive Prelude in 1913. (Vroon, American Records Guide, Jan / Feb 2017, USA, whole article)

This release is part of Estonian Records’ Great Maestros series. I’m not sure if they plan to restrict themselves to Estonian conductors... Jarvi has an extensive discography, but Brahms has not played a large part in it. /.../ Not a bad recording, but neither is it a threat to your favorites. The Beethoven is more relaxed and romantic in spirit. Randalu is a fine Estonian pianist... His Beethoven is warm and shaped with very little suggestion of Mozart or Haydn. I particularly like his (and Jarvi’s) ability to make this a lovely, solid piece rather than just an example of early Beethoven with rococo tendencies! So, a mixed verdict. An enjoyable concerto, where the classical Beethoven piece is given a warm romantic performance, juxtaposed with a tragically romantic symphony of Brahms, which gets a straight, classical reading. (Althouse, American Records Guide, Jan / Feb 2017, USA, whole article)

... kontsertsalvestused. Ulatuslikud teosed salvestatakse sellisena, nagu nad kõlavad kontserdil, järeltöötlusena tehakse vaid üksikud parandused. Plaadile võib jääda mõne pillimehe kerge vääratus (eksimine on inimlik, see ei pruugi tähendada professionaalsuse või musikaalsuse puudumist), köhatus publiku hulgast, aplaus, braavo-hüüded ja kontserdi üldine eluline atmosfäär. Maestro Järvi eelistab viimastel aegadel just viimatinimetatud live-varianti koos sellega kaasneva loomulikkuse ja inimlikkusega. Ka mina armastan enam kontsertplaadistusi, sest tahan nautida eelkõige orkestri esitust ja dirigendipoolset muusika tõlgitsust, mitte imetleda seda, kuivõrd täiuslik arvutiprogramm on parajasti olnud kasutada helirežissööril ning kui palju stuudioaega on plaadifirma suvatsenud kulutada esitusvigade kõrvaldamiseks. Neeme Järvi ja ERSO plaadistusi tehes oleme selles küsimuses saavutanud suurepärase üksteisemõistmise ka Eesti hetkel küll vist parima klassikalise muusika helirežissööri Tanel Klesmentiga. Live – see on puhas tõde, stuudio − see on suures osas pettus! (Peeter Vähi, Postimees, 07.06.17, Estonia, whole article)

See also other conductors represented by ERP.