Pärnu Music Festival. Young Talents initiative. Soloist with Estonian Festival Orchestra, Paavo Järvi conducting
Program: Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No 1
Paavo Järvi has announced the launch of a new performance platform, dedicated to showcasing and promoting soloists at the start of their international careers. Presented as part of the annual Pärnu Music Festival, the Young Talents initiative reinforces Järvi’s commitment to professional mentorship and support of the next generation.
For the inaugural concert on 14 July, Järvi has invited three exceptional young soloists to perform with the Estonian Festival Orchestra: Paloma So in the Sibelius Violin Concerto, Anaëlle Tourret in Handel’s Harp Concerto, and Tähe-Lee Liiv in Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1.
“The Pärnu Music Festival has always been about more than just concerts; it’s about passing the torch,” says Paavo Järvi. “By creating this platform, we are giving these incredible soloists the space to collaborate with the Estonian Festival Orchestra, helping them bridge the gap between being a ‘young talent’ and a professional international artist.”
Canadian-Chinese pianist, Paloma So first gained recognition as a prize winner at the Wieniawski Competition and is currently pursuing a dual degree at Harvard and the New England Conservatory under Donald Weilerstein.
“Paloma So is an exceptionally talented violinist and from the moment I heard her play, it was immediately clear that she was an artist I wanted to invite to perform as part of this new programme in Pärnu.”
Paavo JärviFrench harpist Anaëlle Tourret is the Principal Harpist of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg, a position she earned at just 25 years old. A protégé of Xavier de Maistre, her debut album, Perspectives, was nominated for the 2023 International Classical Music Awards.
“Anaëlle Tourret stands out as one of the most remarkable harpists I have encountered and, having heard her perform both as an orchestral musician and soloist, it was immediately evident that she is a young artist we needed to invite to the festival.”
Paavo JärviEstonian pianist Tähe-Lee Liiv gained national fame as the youngest winner of the Estonian television talent show Klassikatähed in 2020. She was selected for Andras Schiff’s prestigious “Building Bridges” project in 2024 and has appeared as soloist with the Estonian National Symphony and Kremerata Baltica.
“Tähe-Lee Liiv is very much on her way to becoming one of Estonia’s leading young international soloists; a pianist of real depth, she has already distinguished herself through Andras Schiff’s prestigious ‘Building Bridges’ project.”
Paavo JärviAbout the Pärnu Music Festival
Founded in 2011 by Paavo Järvi and the Järvi family, the Pärnu Music Festival has become one of the most prestigious orchestral festivals in Europe. Held annually in the Estonian seaside resort of Pärnu, the festival is defined by its “mentor-apprentice” philosophy, which brings together world-class professionals and student musicians for a week of intensive music-making. The festival includes the Järvi Academy, which offers masterclasses for conductors and orchestral players, creating a unique environment for artistic exchange and the cultivation of the next generation of musicians.
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