Olari Elts

Olari Elts at XXVI Estonian Song Celebration 2014

Olari Elts (born April 27, 1971 in Tallinn, Estonia) is an Estonian Conductor. He was the principal conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2006. He is the founder and director of the contemporary music ensemble NYYD Ensemble.

In September 2006 he took up the newly created position of Artistic Advisor of the Orchestre de Bretagne, and he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from the beginning of the 2007/08 season. Also in 2007, he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

Olari Elts has conducted Finnish Radio, Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Sinfoniker, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lucerne Symphony, Orchestre National du Capitole de Touloluse, City of Birmingham Symphony, Ensemble Modern and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with whom he made his US debut. He also visits Australia and New Zealand regularly, appearing with orchestras including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Western Australian Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Olari’s opera work includes appearances with the Estonian National Opera, conducting Britten's "Albert Herring" and Puccini’s "Il Trittico", as well as Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" and "Idomeneo" with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. In autumn 2008 he conducted performances of Marschner's "Der Vampyr" at the Rennes Opera House, and also in Hungary.

In 2001 Olari Elts was awarded the IVth Class Order of the White Star by his native Estonia, in recognition for his outstanding contribution to music.

Awards

Elts has won the following conductor's competitions:

• Second International Sibelius Conductors’ Competition, 2000
• First Jorma Panula Conducting Competition, 1999

External links

• Eesti Ekspress Olari Eltsist
• Olari Elts juhatab Milwaukee sümfooniaorkestrit ERR April 5, 2009
• Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
• Orchetre de Bretagne