Eri Klas, Estonian conductor, Died at 76

  Music

Eri Klas was born on June 7, 1939, in Tallinn and died on February 26, 2016.

He was an Estonian conductor.

Klas mainly worked on the Nordic scene.

Eri was best known for his work leading the defunct Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Klas premiered Alfred Schnittke’s 1st Cello Concerto (Munich Philharmonic, 1986) and Peer Gynt ballet (Hamburg State Opera, 1989), and served on the diffusion of the Estonian symphonic repertory.

Eri Klas was also active as a pedagogue, holding professorships at the Sibelius Academy (1993–97) and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (1997 until his death), where he received an honorary doctorate.

He was graced with the Order of the Lion of Finland (1992, on the occasion of Finland’s 75th Independence Day) and the Order of the White Star.

Eri was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Klas was named a People’s Artist of the USSR, in 1986.

He was a former Estonian lightweight junior boxing champion, he was also a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee.

Eri Klas pass away at 96 yrs old.