About the Absolute Ensemble:
Since its inception in 1993, fans have slowly witnessed something of a metamorphosis of Kristjan Järvi’s Absolute Ensemble. Beginning in New York as another new music group, Järvi seemed unable to quench his appetite for music of all genres. The group Järvi lovingly describes as “musical omnivores” lends itself to the kind of performance usually foreign to the classical breed. Members are frequently called upon to improvise as well as arrange and compose. Choosing to integrate rather than segregate music, the group fuses its classical roots with everything from jazz and rock to world music and hip-hop. By defying categorization and creating a totally new sound, Absolute is a refreshing guide to the future of music. The American Record Guide claims Absolute "may be the most alluring and virtuosic…of today's new music groups,” while Time Out New York proclaims the group “Absolutely fabulous, absolutely innovative.”
Absolute Ensemble has an expansive touring schedule to all corners of the globe, as well as maintaining both its New York presence and a European base at Musikfest Bremen, Germany. In 2007 Kristjan Järvi and Absolute Ensemble were awarded the Deutsche Bank Prize at Musikfest Bremen for outstanding musical achievement. Absolute Ensemble’s previous eight recordings have received the German Record Critic’s Prize and a Grammy Nomination. New recordings by the Absolute Ensemble of Absolute Arabian Nights and Absolute Zawinul are due out in late 2009 and 2010. The Ensemble members combine the roles of performer, composer, arranger and improviser to promote a truly unique approach to making music. This approach is taught annually at the Bremen University for Music and Art “Absolute Academy”. New York appearances by the group include: Miller Theater, Town Hall, Joe’s Pub, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors and others.
About Kristjan Järvi:
Estonian-born Conductor Kristjan Järvi has forged a special connection with audiences across the globe. Renowned as one of the best communicators on the international stage, he has been hailed by the New York Times as “a kinetic force on the podium, like Leonard Bernstein reborn.” Kristjan Järvi moved to New York as a child. He studied piano with Nina Svetlanova at the Manhattan School of Music where he also founded the Absolute Ensemble. After graduate conducting studies at the University of Michigan, Järvi was Assistant-Conductor to Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He went on to take up the posts of Chief Conductor and Music Director of Norrlands Opera and Symphony Orchestra, Sweden (2000-2004) and Tonkünstler Orchestra, Vienna (2004-2009). Well-known for his musical insight into repertoire ranging from the classical period to the 21st century Kristjan Järvi is also Artistic Advisor to the Basel Chamber Orchestra. Järvi is also highly sought-after as a Guest Conductor, appearing regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Berlin Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de France, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In 2008/09 he makes his Proms debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales as well as debut concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Bayerische Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de Lyon and NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo.
Järvi’s passion for new music has resulted in the commission of more than 100 works by composers including Arvo Pärt, HK Gruber, Erkki-Sven Tüur and Daniel Schnyder. He has recorded more than 20 albums for which he has received a list of accolades, including the German Record Critics Prize and a Swedish Grammy. In 2007 Deutsche Bank awarded Kristjan Järvi the “Deutsche Bank Prize” at Musikfest Bremen in recognition of outstanding musical achievement and artistic vision.
Kristjan Järvi is a committed advocate of music education and is Founding Conductor and Music Director of the Baltic Youth Philharmonic, the Absolute Academy at Bremen University and is co-founder of the Muusikaselts Estonian Orphanage Program. Mr. Järvi has worked with Japan’s Hyogo Youth Orchestra, the Norwegian Youth Orchestra, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Sydney Sinfonia and the National Repertory Orchestra, Colorado.
