Käru Church
13.07 at 7 p.m.
ESTONIAN CELLO ENSEMBLE
members Andreas Lend
Marius Järvi
Andres Metspalu
Johannes Sarapuu
Program: Bach, Pärt, Wagner etc.
The ESTONIAN CELLO ENSEMBLE (ECE) was established in 2014 by the initiative of six young-generation top cellists. The members of the ensemble, who reside both in Estonia and abroad, aim to perform music specifically written for cello ensembles, commission new works from Estonian composers, and collaborate with unique artists. The Estonian Cello Ensemble has performed at several prestigious festivals such as "Ritmo Delle Citta" and Ambria Jazz in Italy, "Turun Muusikijuhlat" in Finland, Eesti Muusika Päevad (Estonian Music Days), Leigo Järvemuusika, Pärt Days in Rakvere, among others. The ensemble has collaborated with artists such as Erkki-Sven Tüür, Mirjam Tally, Kadri Voorand, Holger Marjamaa, Hanna-Liisa Uusma, Vaiko Eplik, Valter Soosalu, Mari Pokinen, and others. Composers who have created works and arrangements for the cellists include Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Galina Grigorjeva, Tõnu Kõrvits, Margo Kõlar, Timo Steiner, Aleksandr Žedeljov, and others.
ANDREAS LEND began his music studies at the Tallinn Music High School, obtained a bachelor's and master's degree from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and furthered his studies at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. Lend has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned cellists such as Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, and Maria Kliegel, among others. He has received awards in several competitions, including the 1st Prize and Grand Prix at the "Renaissance" International Competition-Festival in Armenia (2013), and the 1st Prize at the ESTA Estonian National Young Violinists and Cellists Competition (2004), among others. In 2007, he was selected to join the European Union Youth Orchestra, with which he has performed throughout Europe. As a soloist and ensemble member, he has performed in various countries including Denmark, Germany, Italy, and has been invited to the Tallinn Chamber Music Festival, the Kuopio Historical Keyboard Festival in Finland, the Valle d'Itria Festival in Italy, among others. Since 2016, he has been a member of the Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian National Opera. In addition, he is involved in the work of the Prezioso String Quartet, Trio Hemeīs, and the Estonian Cello Ensemble, and actively performs as a soloist and chamber musician in many other ensembles. Andreas Lend is a scholarship recipient of the PLMF Musician's Fund.
MARIUS JÄRVI started playing the cello at the age of four. In 1987, he entered the cello class of Laine Leichter at the Tallinn Music High School. From 1995, he studied under Jouko Paavola at the Päijät-Häme Conservatory in Lahti. In 2000, he began his studies at the Sibelius Academy under the guidance of Professor Martti Rousi. In 1989, Marius Järvi achieved 3rd place in the international competition for young cellists in Czechoslovakia (Usti nad Orlicis). In 1995, he won 1st place in the National Competition for Young String Players, and in 2002, he received the main prize at the Estonian Young Interpreters Competition "Con Brio". He has participated seven times in the Kronberg Cello Festival in Germany, one of the world's largest cello festivals. Järvi has furthered his skills in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed cellists such as Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Arto Noras, Maria Tchaikovskaya, Gary Hoffmann, Marko Ylönen, Johannes-Eerik Gustafsson, Heikki Rautasalo, Raphael Wallfisch, Torleif Thedeen, and Tuomas Hanhinen. Marius Järvi has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in many European countries, including Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, among others. He has appeared as a soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Järvi Festival Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, and others, under the baton of conductors Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Risto Joost, Paul Mägi, Tibor Bogányi, Atso Almila, Anu Tali, and Kaisa Roose. Järvi has also participated in music recordings, including solo albums such as "Urkutaikuri" (2001) and Rene Eespere's Cello Concerto "Concertatus Celatus" dedicated to Marius Järvi, among others. In the autumn of 2000, Marius Järvi released his first solo album "Via" in collaboration with the world-renowned organist Kalevi Kiviniemi. From 2005 to 2013, he worked as a cellist in the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the Hulencourt Soloists Chamber Orchestra and the Järvi Festival Orchestra. Since 2014, he has been a cellist in the Estonian National Opera Orchestra and works as a teacher at the VHK Music School. Marius Järvi is also a member of the chamber music ensemble Järvi Instrumentalists.
ANDRES ALEXANDER METSPALU has studied in the cello classes of Reet Mets, Mart Laas, and Henry-David Varema in Estonia, as well as with Marc Coppey and Pauline Bartissol in Paris and with Wolfgang Boettcher in Berlin. Currently, he is studying under Henry-David Varema and working in the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. He has also played in the Rahman Quartet, with which he has performed in Estonia, Ireland, England, Spain, and Italy. He has soloed with the Eller Sinfonietta, Haapsalu Gala Orchestra, TMKK Symphony Orchestra, and Claude Debussy Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Metspalu has participated in several international competitions in Latvia and Austria, and in 2016, as a member of the quartet (H.C. Aavik, M. Mutso, G. Lehtmaa), he achieved second place and a special prize (for outstanding cultivated sound) at the third international competition Spring Sonata in Vilnius. In 2017, the same quartet won second place in the chamber ensemble category at the G. Zinetti Competition in Italy, after which they decided to continue playing under the name Rahman Quartet.
JOHANNES PEETER SARAPUU began his music studies at the age of 6 at the Old Town Educational College Music School (teacher Aare Tammesalu). In 2012, he enrolled at the Universität der Künste Berlin in Germany, where he obtained a master's degree under the guidance of Prof. Konstantin Heidrich in 2019. He has also furthered his studies through masterclasses with Prof. W. Boettcher (UdK Berlin), Prof. H. Kiiski (Sibelius Academy), Prof. H.-D. Varema (EMTA), Prof. I. Monighetti (Russia), Prof. I. Fanlo (Spain), and Prof. J-E. Gustafsson (Sweden). Sarapuu is active as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He has given over 30 solo concerts in Estonia featuring J. S. Bach's cello suites. In 2019, he was awarded the laureate title at the international Arthur Kapp Cello Competition, and in 2015, he achieved third place in the Estonian String Players' Competition. In the same year, he performed as a soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Since 2014, Sarapuu has collaborated with the vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis, performing Arvo Pärt's music in Estonia, Poland, Belgium, France, and Japan. He also performs on the baroque cello as a soloist and as a member of the Corelli Consort ensemble. He has participated in the work of several orchestras, including the Estonian Festival Orchestra (conducted by Paavo Järvi), London's Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Wiener Konzerthaus, Kölner Philharmonie, Zürich Tonhalle Maag, Brussels Palais des Beaux Arts, Philharmonie Luxembourg, and at the Tallinn and Pärnu Music Festivals. He has also played with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Neeme Järvi) and the Nordic Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Anu Tali) in Austria and Estonia. Since 2018, Sarapuu has been a member of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra.