Eri Klas
(7. June 1939 – 26. February 2016)
Conductor, Educator, Cultural Ambassador – A Great Figure in Estonian and World Music History.
Eri Klas was one of Estonia’s most renowned conductors, whose passionate and heartfelt leadership brought musical beauty and human depth to the stage. His charisma and ever-present joy earned him the nickname “Sun Boy.”
His musical journey began at the Tallinn Music School, where he graduated in 1959 with a specialization in choral conducting. In 1964, he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory in Gustav Ernesaks’ class and completed an internship at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow from 1969 to 1971 as an assistant to Boris Haikin.
From 1959 to 1965, Eri Klas worked as a percussionist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Starting in 1965, he served as a conductor at the Estonia Theatre, becoming chief conductor and artistic director from 1975 to 1994. From 1994 he was principal guest conductor, and from 2005 he served as chairman of the board of the Estonian National Opera.
Eri Klas also held numerous international posts: chief conductor of the Royal Swedish Opera (1985–1989), guest conductor at the Finnish National Opera (from 1990), chief conductor of the Århus Symphony Orchestra (1991–1996), chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra (1996–2003), artistic director of the Tampere Philharmonic (1998–2006; principal guest conductor from 2006), artistic director of the Tallinn Philharmonic (from 2002), and chief conductor at Moscow’s Novaya Opera (2006–2011).
He taught at the Sibelius Academy from 1993 to 1997 and, from 1998, at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as an extraordinary professor.
Eri Klas performed as an opera and symphony conductor in more than 40 countries and was also recognized as a ballet conductor. Throughout his career, he led hundreds of opera and symphony orchestras across Europe, America, Asia, and Australia, including at prestigious festivals, and collaborated with leading performers.
Alongside his professional achievements, Eri Klas was an active public figure. He was a founder of the Estonian National Culture Foundation and served as its chairman from 1991, as well as a member of the Estonian Olympic Committee. His friendship with Peeter Saul was further strengthened by their shared passion for boxing—Eri Klas remained an enthusiastic supporter of the sport throughout his life.
Eri Klas received high honors from several countries and was awarded the Order of the White Star, I Class, by the Republic of Estonia. He believed that music serves as a bridge between nations and a bearer of hope in all times.
An interview filmed at a grand opera gala held at Palmse Manor in 2014 to celebrate the maestro’s 75th birthday is available in the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) archive.
The texts have been compiled using materials from Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and the Estonian Music Information Centre (EMIC).