Tõnu Kaljuste, Tallin Chamber Orchestra - Eller: Neenia (2008)

"Heino Eller was the consolidator, the man who - no less than Vaughan Williams in Britain - gave Estonian music a sense of direction." - International Record Review, Feb 2001 Heino Eller (1887-1970) is considered the father of modern Estonian music and teacher to virtually every notable composer in 20th century Estonian music, including Arvo Prt. With the current high interest in Estonian music, this is a good moment for ECM to highlight the historical contribution of Heino Eller alongside well-known composers Arvo Prt, Veljo Tormis and Erkki-Sven Tr, who have become firmly associated with the New Series label (13 recordings between them). As very little of Eller's music is currently available on disc, 'Neenia' is an important issue, featuring a highly accessible collection of some of his most stunning orchestral works. Tnu Kaljuste - one of the resolute champions of Estonian music and a familiar name on ECM New Series - directs the Tallin Chamber Orchestra and delivers superb accounts of such delights as the Elgarian 'Five Pieces for String Orchestra'. These are undoubtedly works which deserve a central place in the international orchestral repertoire.