© Marco Borggreve

Olari Elts’ passion for distinctive programming rich with invention has earned him much praise on the international music scene. He began his tenure as Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in 2020. He was also Artistic Advisor of the Kymi Sinfonietta from 2018–2022.

Elts has appeared as guest conductor with renowned orchestras, such as Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National de Lyon, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Soloists with whom he enjoys collaborating, include Gautier Capuçon, Renaud Capuçon, Brett Dean, Isabelle Faust, Alban Gerhardt, Martin Grubinger, Martin Helmchen, Stephen Hough, Lucas & Arthur Jussen, Kari Kriikku, Karita Mattila, Alexander Melnikov, Daniel Lozakovich, Baiba Skride, Simon TrpÄ�eski, and Antoine Tamestit.

As a champion of contemporary Baltic composers, Elts has released recordings of Heino Eller’s Symphonic Poems, as well as his violin concerto with Baiba Skride and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Also widely celebrated by critics are his Ondine recordings of Erkki-Sven Tüür works with Tapiola Sinfonietta, including the viola concerto with Lawrence Power, Tüür’s Symphony No. 5, and the accordion concerto ‘Prophecy’ with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. His 2016 recording of Brahms’ arrangements (Glanert, Berio) with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra also received high praise. Elts’ discography includes the Borgström and Shostakovich violin concertos with Eldbjørg Hemsing and the Wiener Symphoniker as well as recent releases with music by Kalevi Aho. His latest recording project is a new album with music by award-winning Norwegian composer Øyvind Torvund in collaboration with the Olso Philharmonic Orchestra. Elts has also made his mark in opera, having conducted several opera productions. 

Olari Elts was Principal Guest Conductor of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra from 2007–2020 and held the same position at Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 2011–2014. He was Artistic Advisor of the Orchestre National de Bretagne from 2006–2011, Principal Guest Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 2007–2010, and Chief Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 2001–2006.

olarielts.com