Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir bio
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) is one of the best-known Estonian music ensembles. The choir was founded in 1981 by Tõnu Kaljuste, who was the artistic director for 20 years. He was succeeded by Paul Hillier, Daniel Reuss, and Kaspars Putniņš. Since August 2021, the artistic director is once again Mr. Kaljuste. EPCC’s repertoire extends from Baroque to the 21st century, with a special focus on Estonian composers, such as Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis. The choir has two Grammy Awards and nominations, as well as a Gramophone Award, Diapason d’Or, and Prix Caecilia. BBC Music Magazine and Classic FM have both named it one of the 10 best choirs in the world.
Each season, EPCC performs approximately 70 concerts in Estonia and abroad. The choir has collaborated with many eminent conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, and Marc Minkowski, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Philip Glass Ensemble, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Concerto Copenhagen. EPCC has been welcomed at such venues as the Sydney Opera House, Vienna Konzerthaus, Philharmonie de Paris, Rudolfinum, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Hong Kong City Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The group’s more than 80 albums are produced together with ECM Records, Virgin Classics, Carus, Harmonia Mundi, Ondine, and BIS Records.
Tõnu Kaljuste has gained international recognition for his diverse repertoire that ranges from operas and classical symphonic works to contemporary music. He has worked with major composers of Northern and Eastern Europe, such as Alfred Schnittke, György Kurtág, Krzysztof Penderecki, Giya Kancheli, and Einojuhani Rautavaara. He is recognized as an expert interpreter and advocate of Estonian composers, including Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Tõnu Kõrvits, Veljo Tormis, and Heino Eller.
In 2014, Mr. Kaljuste received a Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for the Arvo Pärt album Adam’s Lament. His other recordings have received Grammy nominations in various categories from opera to symphonic music. In 2019, he won the International Classical Music Award for his recording of Pärt’s symphonies with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic. His recordings have won other prestigious prizes, including the Cannes Classical Award, Diapason d’Or, Edison Award, Classic BRIT Award, and Prix Caecilia. He has recorded for ECM Records, Virgin Classic, BIS, and Caprice Records.
