Vardo Rumessen has recorded most of piano and chamber music by Rudolf Tobias, Mart Saar, Heino Eller, Eduard Oja and Eduard Tubin. He is recognized as a master performer of Eduard Tubin’s piano music. Rumessen was a personal friend of Tubin and had the opportunity to discuss the composer’s intentions in depth. Eduard Tubin has to a high degree authorized Vardo Rumessen’s interpretations of his music. Rumessen performed the American première of Tubin’s Piano Concertino in 1993 with the Longview Symphony Orchestra. Also, Rumessen is the founder and artistic director of the festival “Eduard Tubin ja tema aeg” (‘Eduard Tubin And His Time’) organized by Eesti Kontsert, the National Concert Institute of Estonia since 2001. He is also the chairman of the board of International Eduard Tubin Society. 

Rumessen has performed works by Beethoven, Franck, Tobias and Tubin for piano and orchestra with the Estonian and Göteborg symphony orchestras, conducted by the late Peeter Lilje and Neeme Järvi. He has also performed frequently in ensemble with numerous singers, violinists, cellists, string quartets and other musicians.

Although Rumessen has achieved his success mainly as a performer of Estonian classical music, he has performed a lot of music from other parts of the world. His largest undertakings have been such as the complete Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier I”, Scriabin’s 10 sonatas, Chopin’s 27 etudes, Rachmaninoff’s 15 etudes-tableaux, etc.

Rumessen is not only the foremost performer of Estonian piano music but also a musicologist with a vast knowledge of Estonian music. He has published a lot of Estonian music, by R Tobias, M Saar, E Oja and H Eller, which have naturally found a place in Rumessen’s repertoire as both soloist and ensemble player. Among other works he restored and published R Tobias’ oratorio “Jonah’s Mission”. In addition, Rumessen has written many articles and has served as an editor of several books about Rudolf Tobias, Mart Saar, Artur Kapp, Eduard Oja, Eduard Tubin and others.

Press resonance

Neutral choise of media reviews about the performances and recordings of Vardo Rumessen:

• The piano sound is very open and natural... Recommended with enthusiasm. (Fanfare, USA)
• Vardo Rumessen does not fit under any ordinary pianistic standard. (Sirp ja Vasar, Estonia)
• Undoubtedly Rumessen is unparalleled as a performer of Tubin... (Aftonbladet, Sweden)
• Rumessen is a pianist of very considerable stature and Tubin is fortunate in having so commanding and sensitive an advocate. (Gramophone, UK)
• Vardo Rumessen, himself an Estonian, is as Tubin seems to have acknowledged, a master of the music. (Hi-Fi News)
• Rumessen’s visit was not only a great musical event; it was a reminder for us to keep alive in our minds the struggle for Iceland’s independence and culture. (Morgunbladid, Iceland)
• A master pianist... one of the most notable interpreters of Tubin... (Länstidningen, Sweden)
• It would hardly be possible to play the music any better... (Goteborgs-Posten, Sweden)
• The world will largely depend upon Rumessen for interpretive insight into Eller’s work, as he is one of the best known advocates not only Eller, but of Estonian music in general. (The Morning Journal, USA)
• He plays them here with extraordinary sensitivity and poetic freedom... (American Record Guide, USA)
• Vardo Rumessen ist ein meisterlicher Interpret und Kenner der estnischen Klaviermusik. /.../ Rumessen, der selbst persönlicher Freund des Komponisten Eduard Tubin in dessen letzten Jahren war, interpretiert die Preludes in einer vom Komponisten selbst autorisierten Form. (Klassik Magazine, Germany) Whole article
• Trotz der Hymnen, die im nur auf englisch und sehr knapp gehaltenen Booklet auf diesen Pianisten gesungen werden, habe ich große Vorbehalte gegenüber seinem Spiel. Mag sein, dass Live-Auftritte einen anderen Eindruck vermitteln, die CD macht nicht glauben, dass es sich um einen sensiblen und unvergleichlichen Pianisten handelt. (Thomas Vitzthum, Klassik Magazine, 11.09.03, Germany) Whole article
• ...tuleb tõdeda, et plaat on olemasolevatest parim. /.../ Rumessen on oma lemmikautoritesse hästi süvenenud – meeleolusid, värve, karaktereid hästi tabanud; tehniliselt osav, ilusa kõlaga. Väikesed kõrvalekalded mõne prelüüdi noodipildist vastu vaatavast rütmimustrist võib kanda interpreedi subjektiivse kõlaintoneerimise arvele. (Virge Joamets, Muusika, 10/03, Estonia)

Discography

Vardo Rumessen has recorded over 20 records for Warner Music / Finlandia Records, BIS, Melodiya, PRO Piano Records, Estonian Radio,  Forte,  Eres, and ERP.

Estonian Preludes
2003 Finlandia Records. Warner Music
2564-60346-2

Download: Saar. Prelude in F major, fragm, mp3, 141 KB

Northern Lights Sonata
Together with String Quartet of St Petersburg Philharmonic Society
2007 Estonian Record Productions
ERP 1707