Hans Christian Aavik, violin

Paavo Järvi described the young violinist Hans Christian Aavik, winner of the 2022 Carl Nielsen Competition, as ‘an exceptional Estonian talent with a distinctive musical voice’.

As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras such as the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra, under conductors including Neeme Järvi, Risto Joost, Mihhail Gerts, Andres Kaljuste, Olari Elts and Andrey Boreyko. 

In 2025, Aavik performed as a soloist alongside Midori in Arvo Pärt’s double concerto “Tabula Rasa” at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Tonhalle Zurich and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and made his debut at Carnegie Hall.

"Aavik’s  playing is technically superb, making light of this work's often considerable technical demands.
Octaves and double-stopped passagework, for example, are razor-honed, and intonation is faultless, while his subtle dynamic inflections and rich tonal palette are undeniably captivating."  (BBC Music Magazine)

Risto Joost, Conductor

Estonian conductor Risto Joost excels by his stylistic versatility and has gained widespread recognition for his work both in the opera pit and on concert stage. The trained singer has already held major artistic positions such as Chief Conductor of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and longstanding conductor of the Estonian National Opera.

Since 2020/21 he is Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Estonian National Theatre Tartu, since 2024/25 he is Chief Conductor of Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn. From 2027/28 Risto Joost holds the position as Chief Conductor of Kuopio Symphony Orchestra.

Risto Joost is a sought-after guest conductor with orchestras such as Helsinki Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Norwegian Opera Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Lahti Sinfonia, Turku Philharmonic, Oulu Sinfonia, Trondheim Symphony, Kristiansand Symphony, Vaasa City Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony, Latvian Symphony and Estonian National Symphony. He was also at the rostrum of Bavarian State Orchestra, MDR Symphony Leipzig, Dortmund Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Antwerp Symphony, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Orchester des Teatro la Fenice, Slovenian Philharmonic, Brno Philharmonic, Janacek Philharmonic among others.

Upcoming highlights with the Estonian National Theatre Tartu include Wagner’s ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen and a Gustav Mahler cycle as well as invitations to the Royal Danish Opera Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Noord Nederlands Orkest and Kuopio Symphony. 

Risto Joost’s discography includes four albums by Tõnu Korvits: The Sound of Wings and You are Light and Morning (Sei la luce e il mattino) with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir,  Hymns to the Nordic Lights with Estonian National Symphony as well as Moorland Elegies (all Ondine). Furthermore it contains works by Haydn with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Peeter Vähi with Latvian National Symphony, Arvo Pärt with Netherlands Chamber Orchestra.

For his artistic activities in Estonia and abroad, Risto Joost received the music award of the Cultural Foundation in Estonia in 2016 and was awarded the Young Cultural Figure Award of the Estonian Republic in 2011. He was Prizewinner of the Malko Conducting Competition 2015 and Jorma Panula Conducting Competition 2012.

Risto Joost has studied at the Estonian Academy of Music, University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna as well as at Royal College of Music in Stockholm with Jorma Panula.

In 1999 Risto Joost founded the chamber choir Voces Musicales/Voces Tallinn and has been Artistic Director of the Birgitta Festival Tallinn in 2017 and 2018.

Season 2026/27

Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra 
(Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian National Theatre Vanemuine)

The Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra is one of Estonia’s most versatile and active theatre orchestras. Its repertoire ranges from Baroque operas and major 20th-century works to musicals and newly commissioned compositions, reflecting the orchestra’s artistic breadth and flexibility.

Risto Joost has been Music Director and Principal Conductor since the 2020/21 season.

In 2024, Tartu, the home city of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra, was European Capital of Culture. The orchestra performed Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in a highly acclaimed concert and took part in the key musical events of the Capital of Culture year. In the Arvo Pärt anniversary year of 2025, the ensemble participated in the production of ‘Palve’.

Upcoming highlights include several ambitious and internationally acclaimed artistic projects, such as Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelungs” at the Saaremaa Opera Festival in 2026, with the remaining operas to follow in the coming summers. Furthermore, Risto Joost and his orchestra will gradually perform all of Mahler’s symphonies over the course of several seasons.

International guest performance engagements include appearances at the Latvian National Opera in Riga and the Klaipėda State Music Theatre.