# Eri Klas, Conductor

> Eri Klas, Conductor – 15 recordings on Ondine. Eri Klas (b. 1939) is a native of Estonia. His greatest musical influence came from David Oistrakh, a great…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/klas-eri

- **Role:** Conductor

## Biography

Eri Klas (b. 1939) is a native of Estonia. His greatest musical influence came from David Oistrakh, a great friend of his family.

Eri Klas was Music Director of the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn from 1975 until 1994, when he became Conductor Laureate. He was subsequently Chief Conductor of the Royal Opera in Stockholm (1985-1989), Principal Guest Conductor of the Finnish National Opera (since 1990), Chief Conductor of the Danish Symphony Orchestra in Århus (1991-1996), Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra (1996-2003) and Artistic Director of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (1998-2006). Currently, Eri Klas is Music Director of the Moscow Kolobov New Opera Theatre. Altogether, he has conducted more than 130 orchestras from all over the world.

Eri Klas was a Professor of Orchestra Conducting at the Sibelius Academy from 1993-1997 and is currently Professor at the Estonian Music Academy.

Eri Klas is closely associated with leading contemporary composers: he conducted many world premières. Eri Klas has been awarded the Order of 'Nordstjernen' from H.M. King Carl Gustav of Sweden, the Order of Finnish Lion, the Order of White Star from the President of Estonia and an honorary doctorate from the Estonian Music Academy. He is a Goodwill Ambassador of Unicef.

## Discography on Ondine (15)

- [Jean Sibelius: Sibelius and the Kalevala · (Digital Album)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1460-2.md): Various (ODE 1460-2, 2024)
- [Jean Sibelius: Summer with Sibelius · (Digital album)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1430-2.md): Various (ODE 1430-2, 2023)
- [John Corigliano: Phantasmagoria · To Music · Fantasia on an Ostinato · Three Hallucinations](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1058-2.md): Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 1058-2, 2005)
- [Tommi Hakala: Great Baritone Arias](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1048-2.md): Tommi Hakala, baritone · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 1048-2, 2004)
- [Erkki Salmenhaara: Suomi-Finland · La Fille en mini-jupe · Adagietto · Le Bateau ivre](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1031-2.md): Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 1031-2, 2004)
- [Einar Englund: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 · Epinikia](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1015-2.md): Matti Raekallio, piano · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 1015-2, 2003)
- [Jorma Hynninen: Opera Arias · Leoncavallo · Verdi · Tchaikovsky · Mozart](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-731-2.md): Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 731-2, 2001)
- [Einar Englund: Cello Concerto · Symphony No. 6 "Aphorisms"](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-951-2.md): Jan-Erik Gustafsson, cello · Tampere Philharmonic Choir · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 951-2, 2000)
- [Einar Englund: The Great Wall of China · Symphony No. 4 "The Nostalgic" · Symphony No. 5 "Fennica"](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-961-2.md): Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor (ODE 961-2, 2000)
- [Jean Sibelius: Cantatas · incl. Finlandia, the version with chorus](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-754-2.md): Finnish National Opera · Chorus and Orchestra · Eri Klas (ODE 754-2, 1990)
- [Opera Gala: Famous arias featuring · Karita Mattila · Elina Garanca · Soile Isokoski · Juha Uusitalo · Tommi Hakala · Jorma Hynninen](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1139-2f.md): Soile Isokoski, soprano · Karita Mattila, soprano · Elina Garanca, mezzo-soprano · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Tommi Hakala, baritone · Juha Uusitalo, bass-baritone · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Leif Segerstam, conductor · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Latvian National Symphony Orchestra · Alexandrs Vilumanis, conductor (ODE 1139-2F, 2008)
- [Mozart Jubileum](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1078-2.md): Pekka Kuusisto (ODE 1078-2, 2006)
- [Jean Sibelius and Akseli Gallen-Kallela: Music and Art Inspired by Kalevala](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1052-2.md): Photo album + CD (ODE 1052-2, 2005)
- [Jorma Hynninen: Profile of a Great Career](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-944-2.md): Classic Stars Chamber Orchestra · Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor · Pekka Haapasalo, conductor · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Kari Tikka, conductor · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · Pentti Koskimies, piano · Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Ralf Gothóni, piano · Aira Johansson, piano · Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jorma Panula, conductor · Joensuu City Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor · Markus Lehtinen, conductor (ODE 944-2, 1999)
- [Finnish Orchestral Favourites](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-863-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 863-2, 1995)