Ellerhein. Estonian Choral Music
EllerheinEstonian Choral Music
December 10, 2011
Estonian Preludes
Estonian Preludes
December 10, 2011

“ESTONIA” − 100 / 11 CD jubilee-box

11 CDs of archive recordings since 1930ties with the soloists of Estonian National Opera.

Dear opera-lover,
PaulHimma150Whereas the Estonia Society, founded in 1865, staged performances from its very birth, the first professional theatre troupe under the wings of the Society was formed in 1906. Hence, the Estonia Theatre, our present National Opera has reached its first remarkable anniversary.
Tallinn has seen opera performances since the last decades of the 17th century. Today we can only imagine what those plays sounded and looked like. The first preserved soundtracks date back to the 1930s and the movie tracks are younger still. Not all has been recorded, a lot has been lost and not everything could be restored. Nevertheless, 221 sound recordings on 11 CDs, collected and restored by Jüri Kruus in co-operation with Priit Kuulberg, can today be humbly presented to you. The sound recordings come mostly from the archives of the Estonian Radio and private collections. Listening to those recordings enables us to meet the theatre legends and old friends over again. For the new century audience of the Estonian National Opera, this collection will hopefully be a pleasant voyage of discovery.
Stones crumble, people tire, art lasts through times. The time will come when the Estonian National Opera marks the end of its second century. The next anniversary could be imagined in many ways but one thing is certain − the impressive history of the National Opera is something to be proud of then as well as now.
Hope you enjoy listening to the collection at hand,

ImagetextPaul Himma
the general manager of EsNO

CD 1 Opera, romance Aav, Händel, Verdi, Gounod, Bizet… 76:39
CD 2 Opera, romance Leoncavallo, Puccini, Tchaikovsky… 74:50
CD 3 Opera Wagner, Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Verdi… 76:03
CD 4 Opera Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Puccini… 77:36
CD 5 Opera Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner… 76:02
CD 6 Opera Aav, Puccini, Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi… 76:49
CD 7 Operetta, musical Kálmán, Lehár, J Strauss, Tubin, Friml… 79:08
CD 8 Operetta, musical Romberg, Kálmán, J Strauss, Milyutin… 71:03
CD 9 Operetta, musical Kálmán, J Strauss, Zeller, Romberg… 76:46
CD 10 Operetta, musical Lehár, Ábrahám, Smetana, Milyutin… 76:56
CD 11 Operetta, musical Kálmán, J Strauss, Lehár, Offenbach… 76:52

Imagetext

CD I, #1, Aav, The Vikings, fragm, mono / stereo, 1 min 48 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

CD IV, #15, Verdi, La Traviata, fragm, 2 min 15 sec, mp3

CD VI, #12, Verdi, Il Trovatore, fragm, 2 min 21 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

ImagetextRecordings since 1930 from the archives of Estonian Radio and private collections

Compilation and liner notes by Jüri Kruus / EsNO
Restored and mastered by Priit Kuulberg
Designed by Mart Kivisild
Photos by Harri Rospu and the archives of EsNO
English translations by Tiina Jokinen
Booklet edited by Elle Himma
Co-producer − Peeter Vähi

Sponsored by Estonian National Culture Foundation
Thanks: Orbital Vox Studios
AAD / ADD
Mono / Stereo
© 2006 EsNO / ERP
906
Manufactured on Sony DADC, Austria

Imagetext

Estonian National Opera

ImagetextThe Estonian National Opera, established in the year 1906, is a historic organisation with vital traditions and manifold functions.
The EsNO’s season, lasting 10 months from Sep until Jun, contains a varied repertoire of opera, ballet, operetta, musicals and children’ pieces. Around 250 performances of up to 30 different works are presented annually, including the cream of classical opera and operetta as well as contemporary masterpieces. On the top of that, the best works of Estonian origin are also shown on the stage!
The Estonian National Opera is the home of the symphony orchestra, the opera choir and the ballet. The orchestra was founded in 1907 and it now employs almost a 100 musicians. In addition to its theatre assignments, the orchestra regularly performs symphonic works and records world classics as well as the best of Estonian music. The 54-strong opera choir, besides participating in stage productions, consistently gives concerts on its own as well. The EsNO employs as many as 25−30 soloists. As a compliment to that, it welcomes guest singers on a regular basis. The EsNO ballet, existing within the framework of the opera company and employing approximately 60 dancers, is the country’s largest ballet troupe.

Young choreographers are constantly enriching its repertoire of standard favourites with contemporary pieces and occasional avant-garde projects. In order to stay open to new ideas and fresh approaches, The EsNO always makes space and time in its working schedule for joint projects of multifarious nature, and for individual guest artists. For the latter to bring their unique experience onto our stage; for the Estonian audience, to partake of a different artistic vision.
Symbolically speaking, the EsNO’s location in the heart of Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn, is a reflection of the company’s artistic position − at the centre of Estonian culture.

History in the highlights

1865 “Estonia”, the song and drama society, is founded
1871 the very first, tentative drama performances
1906 “Estonia” becomes a professional theatre
1906−08 Otto Hermann, the 1st music director
1907 the 1st operetta-production, “Mamzelle Nitouche” by F Hervé
1908−12 Adalbert Wirkhaus, music director
1908 the first opera staged, “Das Nachtlager von Granada” by K Kreutzer
1911 the 1st Estonian operetta production, “The Midsummer Night” by P Pinna & A Wirkhaus
1912−42 Raimund Kull, music director
1913 the new playhouse opened with W Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
1913 the 1st opera staged in the new house, “Hänsel und Gretel” by E Humperdinck
1918 G Verdi’s “La Traviata” performed by an all-Estonian cast
1922 the 1st ballet on “Estonia’s” stage, “Coppelia” by L Delibes
1925 the 1st production of a Wagner opera (“Der fliegende Holländer”)
1926 the ballet troupe begins regular work
1928 the 1st Estonian opera staged, “The Vikings” by Evald Aav
1942−44 Verner Nerep, music director
1944 the première of 1st Estonian ballet, “Kratt” by Eduard Tubin
1944 the theatre house is destroyed by the Soviet air raid
1944−51 Priit Nigula, chief conductor
1947 the playhouse re-opened
1949 the drama troupe is dissolved, “Estonia” becomes opera theatre
1951−63 Kirill Raudsepp, chief conductor
1963 the 1st musical staged, “My Fair Lady” by F Loewe
1963−75 Neeme Järvi, chief conductor
1975−94 Eri Klas, chief conductor
1991 the Winter Garden of “Estonia” opened
1995 Paul Mägi, music director
1998 the “Estonia” theatre is renamed the Estonian National Opera
2001 Tiit Härm, artistic director of the ballet troupe
2002 Arne Mikk, artistic director
2005 Arvo Volmer, music director
2005−96 reconstruction of the opera house

Imagetext

The soloists of Estonian National Opera

ImagetextLiida Aadre (1904−1957), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1935−1944). Roles: Elisabeth (Wagner. Tannhäuser), Leonora; Elisabeth (Verdi. Il Trovatore; Don Carlo) Norina (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Lisa; Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. The Queen Of Spades; Eugene Onegin), Mimi / Musette (Puccini. La Bohème), Vaike (Aav. The Vikings)
Jenny Anvelt (b 1949), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1972−1982). Roles: Salome (R Strauss. Salome), Odabella (Verdi. Attila), Donna Anna (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Katerina (Shostakovich. Katerina Izmailova), Luisa (Prokofiev. Betrothal In A Monastery)
Väino Aren (b 1933), operetta artist (1971−1975). Roles: Thief / Pippi’s father (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking), Gaetan (Dobrzansky. Royal Balcony), Schultz (Kander. Cabaret), Count Bitowsky (Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Aleksander Arder (1894−1966), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1923−1931). Roles: Tonio / Silvio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Demon (Rubinstein. Demon), Scarpia (Puccini. Tosca), The Dutchman (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), di Luna; Renato (Verdi. Il Trovatore; Un Ballo in maschera), Boris (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Igor (Borodin. Prince Igor)
Andrei Christiansen (1914−1968), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1942−1944), soloist of Vienna and Wiesbaden State Operas (1946). Roles: Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Wolfram (Wagner. Tannhäuser), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Marcello; Sharpless (Puccini. La Bohème; Madama Butterfly)
Marika Eensalu  (b 1947), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1970−1998). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Marfa (Mussorgsky. Khovanshchina), Ulrica (Verdi. Un Ballo in maschera), Clare (Prokofiev. Betrothal In A Monastery), Catharina (Tubin. The Parson Of Reigi), Dorabella (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte), Bradamante (Händel. Alcina), Suzuki (Puccini. Madama Butterfly)
Enno Eesmaa (1917−1996), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1942−1987). Roles: Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Duke (Verdi. Rigoletto), Canio / Beppo (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Almaviva (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Gerald (Delibes. Lakmé), De Grieux (Massenet. Manon), Yurodivyi (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov)
Helmi Einer (1888−1968), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1912−36). Roles: Elisabeth; Elsa (Wagner. Tannhäuser; Lohengrin), Leonora; Violetta (Verdi. Il Trovadore; La Traviata), Tosca (Puccini. Tosca), Mariza; Sylva (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza; Die Csárdásfürstin)
Ants Eskola  (1908−1989), operetta artist of the EsNO (1925−1941, 1947−1949). Roles: Celestin (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Paul Fontaine (Romberg. The Desert Song), Koloman Zsupán (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza), Bobby Kengsten (Beneš. Auf den grünen Wiese), von Körvessi (Kálmán. Die Herzogin von Chicago), Bernhard (Kálmán. Kaiserin Josephine), Florizel (Ábrahám. Dzchaina), Orlofsky (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus)
Viktor Gurjev  (1914−1985), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1950−1968). Roles: Lenski; Herman (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin; The Queen Of Spades), Alfredo; Gustav (Verdi. La Traviata, Un Ballo in maschera), Cavaradossi (Puccini. Tosca), Prince (Dargomizhsky. Rusalka), Hoffmann (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Eisenstein (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Mozart (Rimsky-Korsakov. Mozart And Salieri), Vladimir (Borodin. Prince Igor)
Jaan Haabjärv (1914−1946), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1938−1946). Roles: Rodolfo (Puccini. La Bohème), Walter (Wagner. Tannhäuser), Almaviva (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Sinodal (Rubinstein. Demon), Cavaradossi; Pinkerton (Puccini. Tosca; Madama Butterfly)
Maarja Haamer (b 1938), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1965−1991). Roles: Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Barbara (Tubin. Barbara von Tiesenhusen), Marchal’s wife (R Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier), Elisabeth; Luisa (Verdi. Don Carlo; Luisa Miller), Sirje (Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Donna Elvira (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Mimi; Tosca (Puccini. La Bohème; Tosca), N19edda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci)
Benno Hansen (1891−1952), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1909−13, 1918−1926, 1929−1952), chorus singer of Mariinsky Theatre (1913−18). Roles: Marcel (Meyerbeer. Les Huguenots), Sarastro (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Méphistophélès (Gounod. Faust), Miller (Dargomizhsky. Rusalka), Boris (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Falstaff (Nicolai. Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Mehis (Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Colline (Puccini. La Bohème)
Ludmilla Issakova (1924−2004), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO(1949−1959). Roles: Olga; Polina (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin; The Queen Of Spades), Suzuki (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Konchakovna (Borodin. Prince Igor), Fjodor (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Ratmir (Glinka. Ruslan And Ludmilla)
Tiina Jaaksoo (b 1931), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1960−1987). Roles: Odabella; Leonora; Aida; Elisabeth (Verdi. Attila; Il Trovatore; Aida; Don Carlo), Gioconda (Ponchielli. La Gioconda), Minnie; Mimi; Georgette (Puccini. La Fanciulla del West; La Bohème; Il Tabarro), Zaida (Rossini. Il turco in Italia), Katerina (Shostakovich. Katerina Izmailova)
Vello Jürna (b 1959), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1989). Roles: Don Carlo; Alfredo; Radames (Verdi. Don Carlo; La Traviata; Aida), Rodolfo; Pinkerton; Cavaradossi (Puccini. La Bohème; Madama Butterfly; Tosca), Nemorino (Donizetti. L’Elisir d’amore), Ferrando (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte), Des Grieux (Massenet. Manon), Don José (Bizet. Carmen)
Mare Jõgeva (b 1939), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1971−1996). Roles: Aida; Leonora; Odabella (Verdi. Aida; Il Trovatore; Attila), Salome (R Strauss. Salome), Georgette; Angelica; Mimi (Puccini. Il Tabarro; Suor Angelica; La Bohème), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Margherita (Boito. Mefistofele), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Agathe (Weber. Der Freischütz), Katerina (Shostakovich. Katerina Izmailova), Saima (Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Anu Kaal  (b 1940), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1967−1996). Roles: Queen of the Night; Konstanze (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte; Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Violetta; Gilda; Luisa (La Traviata; Rigoletto; Luisa Miller), Sophie (R Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier), Lucia; Maria (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor; La Fille du régiment), Manon (Massenet. Manon), Lucy (Menotti. The Telephone), Roxane (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Adele (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Violet (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Pippi (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking)
Harri Kaasik (1910−1994), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1937−1944). Roles: Turiddu (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Pinkerton (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Pedro (d’Albert. Tiefland), Beppo (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Alfred (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), René (Lehár. Der Graf von Luxemburg), Stanislaus (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Ain; Jacques (Ardna. Girl From The Tatras; Girl With No Homeland)
Mari Kamp  (b 1915), soprano. Chorus singer of the EsNO (1935−1939) and soloist (1939−1944). Roles: Sylva, Mariza (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Gräfin Mariza), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Adele (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Angele (Léhar. Der Graf von Luxemburg), Violet (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Kristel (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler)
Kalju Karask (b 1931), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1959−1994). Roles: Othello; Radames; Foresto (Verdi. Otello; Aida; Attila), Canio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Cavaradossi; Rodolfo; Louis; Dick Johnson (Puccini. Tosca; La Bohème; Il Tabarro; La Fanciulla del West), Radjami; Tassilo (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza), Red Shadow (Romberg. The Desert Song), Peteri (Kemény. Somewhere In The South)
Katrin Karisma  (b 1947), operetta artist of the EsNO (1968−1998). Roles: Aldonza (Leigh. Man of La Mancha), Pippi (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking), Golde (Bock. Fiddler On The Roof), Daisy Darlington (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Jeanne (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Sally (Kander. Cabaret), Teele (Vinter. Spring), Anastasia (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin), Pepi (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Fran (Bacharach. Promises, Promises), Louis Lane (Porter. Kiss Me, Kate), Dolly (Herman. Hello, Dolly)
Eedo Karrisoo  (1907−1982), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1936−1937, 1940−1944). Roles: Rodolfo; Pinkerton; Cavaradossi; Dick Johnson (Puccini. La Bohème; Madama Butterfly; Tosca; La Fanciulla del West), Canio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Don José (Bizet. Carmen), Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin)
Valentine Kask  (1899−1974), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1923−1933). Roles: Azucena; Ulrica (Verdi. Il Trovatore; Un Ballo in maschera), Mignon (Thomas. Mignon), Marta (d’Albert. Tiefland), Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Countess (Tchaikovsky. The Queen Of Spades)
Tõnu Kilgas  (b 1954), operetta artist of the EsNO (1984−2001). Roles: Boni; Koloman Zsupán (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Gräfin Mariza), Josef (Strauss. Wiener Blut), Mustafa (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Master of Ceremonies (Kander. Cabaret), Bill Calhoun (Porter. Kiss Me, Kate), Kiir (Vinter. Spring), Warder the Frog (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Njegus (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe)
Meta Kodanipork  (1904−1983), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1945−1964). Roles: Tatiana; Iolanthe (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin; Iolanthe), Anna (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Mall (Ernesaks. The Coast of Storms), Tosca (Puccini. Tosca), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Sylva; Mariza (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin, Gräfin Mariza), Rose-Marie (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Rosalinde (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Hanna Glawari (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe)
Ants Kollo  (b 1949), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1980−1995) and chorus singer (since 1995). Roles: Erik (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Ferrando (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte), Lenski / Triquet (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Arturo (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor), Oronte (Händel. Alcina), Alfredo (Verdi. La Traviata), Yurodivyi (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Vašek (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Raoul; Tassilo (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Gräfin Mariza)
Kaie Konrad  (b 1943), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO. Roles: Elisabeth (Verdi. Don Carlo), Elvira (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Barbara (Tubin. Barbara von Tiesenhusen), Singer (Sink. Salvation Of St Mary’s Land)
Uno Kreen (1928−1996), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1964−1996). Roles: Philipp II / Grand Inquisitor; Walter (Verdi. Don Carlo; Luisa Miller), Sarastro; Leporello; Osmin (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte; Don Giovanni; Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Daland (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Colline (Puccini. La Bohème), Gremin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Geronio (Rossini. Il turco in Italia), Pimen / Varlaam (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov)
Hendrik Krumm (1934−1989), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1961−1989). Roles: Rodolfo (Puccini. La Bohème), Gustav; Foresto; Duke; Radames; Don Carlo; Manrico; Alfredo; Rodolfo (Verdi. Un Ballo in maschera; Attila; Rigoletto; Aida; Don Carlo; Il Trovatore; La Traviata; Luisa Miller), Edgardo; Ernesto; Tonio (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor; Don Pasquale; La Fille du régiment), Turiddu (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Faust (Boito. Mefistofele), Hoffmann (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann)
Galina Kulkina (1922−1990), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1961−1971). Roles: Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon), Maria (Tchaikovsky. Mazepa), Serena (Gershwin. Porgy And Bess), Jacqueline (Kabalevsky. Colas Breugnon)
Voldemar Kuslap (b 1937), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1965). Roles: Don Giovanni; Papageno; Bartolo (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte; Le Nozze di Figaro), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Don Carlos (Prokofiev. Betrothal in a Monastery), Cyrano (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Malatesta; Dulcamara (Donizetti. Don Pasquale; L’Elisir d’amore), Aristide (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Cervantes (Leigh. Man of La Mancha), Mirko Zeta (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe)
Tiit Kuusik (1911−1990), baritone. Soloist of Vienna Volksoper (1938−1939), Kassel Staatsoper (1942−1943), the EsNO (1940−1941, 1944−1988). Roles: Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Rigoletto; Aetius; di Posa; Jago; di Luna; Miller (Verdi. Rigoletto; Attila; Don Carlo; Otello; Il Trovatore; Luisa Miller), Enrico (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor), Scarpia; Michele (Puccini. Tosca; Il Tabarro), Boris (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Tonio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Demon (Rubinstein. Demon), Lembitu (V Kapp. Lembitu), the Dutchman (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Prime Minister (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Ivo Kuusk (b 1937), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1963−1967, since 1978). Roles: Turiddu (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Don Carlo; Alfredo; Gustav III; Othello (Verdi. Don Carlo; La Traviata; Un Ballo in maschera; Otello), Edgardo; Tonio; Nemorino (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor; La Fille du régiment; L’Elisir d’amore), Pinkerton (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Don Jerom (Prokofiev. Betrothal In A Monastery), Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Khovanski (Mussorgsky. Khovanshchina), Raoul; Tassilo (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Gräfin Mariza)
Mati Kõrts (b 1962), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1986). Roles: Alfredo (Verdi. La Traviata), Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Tamino; Ferrando (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte; Cosi fan tutte), De Grieux (Massenet. Manon), Almaviva (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Nemorino (Donizetti. L’Elisir d’amore), Oberto (Händel. Alcina), René (Lehár. Der Graf von Luxemburg), Christian (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Zedlau (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Edwin (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin)
Ervin Kärvet (1932−2000), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1959−1998). Roles: Kaspar / Kuno (Weber. Das Freischütz), Don Alphonso; Masetto (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte; Don Giovanni), Grand Inquisitor (Verdi. Don Carlo), Comte de Guiche (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Mendoza (Prokofiev. Betrothal in a Monastery), Kagler (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Fred Graham (Porter. Kiss Me, Kate), Crown (Gershwin. Porgy And Bess), Efraim (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking)
Aino Külvand  (1921−2005), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1954−1978). Roles: Senta (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Amelia; Desdemona; Aida; Leonora (Verdi. Un Ballo in maschera; Otello; Aida; Il Trovatore), Gioconda (Ponchielli. La Gioconda), Nedda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Tosca; Minnie (Puccini. Tosca; La Fanciulla del West), Donna Elvira / Zerlina (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Gorislava (Glinka. Ruslan And Ludmilla), Iolanthe; Lisa (Tchaikovsky. Iolanthe; The Queen Of Spades), Saima (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Arvo Laid  (1945−1993), baritone. Chorus singer (1968−1974) and soloist (1974−1993) of the EsNO. Roles: d’Artagnan (Vinter / Raudmäe. Four Musceteers), Orlofsky (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Marcello (Puccini. La Bohème), Alfio (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Mister Herz; Monostatos (Mozart. Der Schauspieldirektor; Die Zauberflöte), Florimond; Koloman Zsupán (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Gräfin Mariza), Master of Ceremonies (Kander. Cabaret), Toots (Vinter. Spring)
Milvi Laid (1906−1976), soprano. Operetta artist of the EsNO (1929−1944). Roles: Violetta (Verdi. La Traviata), Rosina (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Odette; Mariza; Sylva; Violetta (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza; Die Csárdásfürstin; Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Viktoria; Madleine (Ábrahám. Viktoria und ihr Husar; Ball im Savoy), Rosalinde; Adele (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Hanna Glawari (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Ingel Voog (Ardna. Fisherman’s Maiden), Kristel (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler)
Ester Lepa (b 1928), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1956−1965). Roles: Susanna (Mozart. La Nozze di Figaro), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Sirje (E. Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Anna (Kemény. Somewhere In The South), Angele (Heuberger. Der Opernball), Kristel (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Elts; Lea (Arro / Normet. Rummu Jüri; Lights Of The Home Port), Papagena (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte)
Artur Linnamägi  (1915−1983), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1946−1977). Roles: Pharao (Verdi. Aida), Commander / Masetto; Sarastro (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte), Kontchak (Borodin. Prince Igor), Gremin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Don Basilio (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Varlaam (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov)
Ida Loo-Talvari (1901−97), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1926−44). Roles: Turandot (Puccini. Turandot), Queen of the Night (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Lakmé (Delibes. Lakmé), Gilda; Violetta (Verdi. Rigoletto; La Traviata), Norina (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Margarethe (Gounod. Faust), Rosina (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Juta (Aav. The Vikings)
Olga Lund (1912−1998), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1934−1941, 1944−1963). Roles: Eboli (Verdi. Don Carlo), Lisa (Tchaikovsky. The Queen Of Spades), Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Tosca (Puccini. Tosca), Mařenka (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Donna Elvira (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Senta (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Mall (Ernesaks. The Coast of Storms), Gorislava (Glinka. Ruslan and Ludmilla), Saima (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Sylva (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin)
Valter Luts  (1923−2003), operetta artist and director at the EsNO (1946−1968). Roles: Colonel Parker (Kálmán. Die Bajadere), General Birabeau (Romberg. The Desert Song), Boris Olenich; Bogdan Sussik (Milyutin. Unsettled Happiness; Trembita), Professor Süffle (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Värdi (Arro / Normet. Rummu Jüri)
Agu Lüdig (1897−1949). Operetta director and actor at the EsNO (1919−1949). Roles: Florimond (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Porthos (Penatzky. Three Musceteers), Mustafa Bei (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Benjamin Kidd / General Birabeau (Romberg. The Desert Song), Boni; Napoleon Saint Cloche; Sterzl (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Die Bajadere; Das Hollandweibchen), Herman (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Arpad (Dostal. Die Ungarische Hochzeit), Falk (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Ollendorf (Millöcker. Der Bettelstudent), Galicot (Fall. Madame Pompadour)
Elsa Maasik  (1908−1991), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1942−1963). Roles: Butterfly (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Elisabeth (Wagner. Tannhäuser), Donna Anna (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Nedda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Violetta; Amelia; Gilda (Verdi. La Traviata; Un Ballo in maschera; Rigoletto), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon), Viktoria (Ábrahám. Viktoria und ihr Husar), Marie (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Angele (Léhar. Der Gräf von Luxemburg), Rosalinde (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song)
Teo Maiste  (b 1932), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1965). Roles: Philipp II / Grand Inquisitor; Attila; Wurm (Verdi. Don Carlo; Attila; Luisa Miller), Selim; Don Bartolo / Don Basilio (Rossini. Il turco in Italia; Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Leporello (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Don Pasquale (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Gianni Schicchi (Puccini. Gianni Schicchi), Boris / Varlaam (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Miller (Dargomizhsky. Rusalka), Mendoza (Prokofiev. Betrothal in the Monastery), Cyrano (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Porgy (Gershwin. Porgy And Bess), Prime Minister (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Hugo Malmsten (1907−1991), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1944−1971). Roles: Alfredo (Verdi. La Traviata), Edvin / Feri; Tassilo / Prince Populescu; Louis Philippe (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Gräfin Mariza; Die Bajadere), Pierre / General Birabeau (Romberg. The Desert Song), Frank; Kagler (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus; Wiener Blut), Baron Weps (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Colonel Pickering (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Mirko Zeta (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe)
Eva Meil (1917−2002), operetta artist of the EsNO (1949−1975). Roles: Nastenka (Milyutin, Unsettled Happiness), Jeanne (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Ida / Lotte (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Julia’s nurse-maid (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette), Miina (Arro / Normet. Rummu Jüri), Adelaide (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Mare Tüürimees (Oit. Weird Adventures Of The Muhu People), Susan (Romberg. The Desert Song), Missis Hopkins (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Lolitta (Kemény. Somewhere In The South)
Alfred Mering (1903−1988), operetta artist and director at the EsNO (1946−1965). Roles: Koloman Zsupán; Napoleon Saint Cloche; Boni (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza; Die Bajadere; Die Csárdásfürstin), Vincenz (Fall. Der Fidele Bauer), Frog (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Krizsán (Kemény. Somewhere In The South), Aadu Kadakas (Oit. Weird Adventures Of The Muhu People), Alfred Doolittle (Loewe. My Fair Lady)
Hans Miilberg (b 1945), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1977). Roles: Almaviva; Don Giovanni; Papageno; (Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro; Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte), Poet (Rossini. Il turco in Italia), Aristide / Mustafa Bei (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Lempelius (Tubin. The Parson Of Reigi), Raju (E Kapp. Freedom Singer), the Master Singer (Cimarosa. Il Maestro di Cappella), Prime Minister (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Enno Mikkelsaar (b 1945), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1977−1986). Roles: Aetius; Germont (Verdi. Attila; La Traviata), Alfio (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Pristav (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Ottokar (Weber. Der Freischütz)
Olga Mikk-Krull  (1887−1980), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1910−1912, 1918−1933, 1940−1958). Roles: Aida; Gilda (Verdi. Aida; Rigoletto), Margarete de Valois (Meyerbeer. Les Huguenots), Margarethe (Gounod. Faust), Rosina (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Tosca; Butterfly; Mimi (Puccini. Tosca; Madama Butterfly; La Bohème), Lisa (Tchaikovsky. The Queen Of Spades), Mignon (Thomas. Mignon), Julia (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette), Zerlina (Mozart. Don Giovanni)
Gerda Murre (1913−1981), sopran. Soloist of the EsNO (1937−40, free-lance 1956−1963). Roles: Nedda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Giulietta (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Rosalinde (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Odette Darimonde; Mariza; Ninon; Risa Marbach (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza; Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Herbsmanöver), Eva (Ardna. Girl Fom The Tatras), Lolitta (Kemény. Somewhere In The South), Vanda (Friml / Stotthart. Rose-Marie), Marguérite (Heuberger. Der Opernball)
Paul Mägi sen  (1917−1973), tenor. The EsNO soloist (1944−1954), director (1949−1958), chief director (1958−61). Roles: Camille; René / Count Luxemburg (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe; Der Graf von Luxemburg), Edvin; Raoul (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Beppo (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Triquet (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Vašek (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Aramis (Benatzky. Three Musceteers)
Ahti Männik (b 1934), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1972−1991). Roles: di Luna; Germon; Renato, Aetius (Verdi. Il Trovatore; La Traviata; Un Ballo in maschera; Attila), Marcello; Michele (Puccini. La Bohème; Il Tabarro), Faninal (R Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier), Jochanaan (R Strauss. Salome), Vambo (E. Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Shaklovityi (Mussorgsky. Khovanshchina), Frank (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus)
Eve Neem  (1942−2006), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1970−1980). Roles: Eboli; Azucena; Amneris (Verdi. Don Carlo; Il Trovatore; Aida), Blind Person (Ponchielli. La Gioconda), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Mother (Szokolay. Vernasz), Olga (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Celine (Kabalevsky. Colas Breugnon)
Veera Nelus (1916−96), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1944−1971). Roles: Rosina (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Gilda; Violetta (Verdi. Rigoletto; La Traviata), Norina (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Musette (Puccini. La Bohème), Zerlina; Susanna (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Le Nozze di Figaro), Lakmé (Delibes. Lakmé), Adele (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Ludmilla (Glinka. Ruslan And Ludmilla), Olympia (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Marfa (Rimsky-Korsakov. The Tsar’s Bride), Manon (Massenet. Manon)
Illart Orav (1936−94), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1962−19). Roles: Don Giovanni; Papageno (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Onegin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Gianni Schicchi (Puccini. Gianni Schicchi), Amonasro (Verdi. Aida), Silvio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Mister X (Kálmán. Die Zirkusprinzessin), Jim Kenyon (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Olav (Aav. The Vikings), Petrov (Ernesaks. The Coast Of Storms)
Georg Ots  (1920−1975), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1945−1975). Roles: Jago; Renato; Rigoletto; Germont; di Posa (Verdi. Otello; Un Ballo di maschera, Rigoletto; La Traviata; Don Carlo), Don Giovanni; Papageno; Figaro (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte; Le Nozze di Figaro), Porgy (Gershwin. Porgy And Bess), Malatesta (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Demon (Rubinstein. Demon), Colas (Kabalevsky. Colas Breugnon), Onegin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Gianni Schicchi (Puccini. Gianni Schicchi), Cervantes / Don Quijote (Leigh. Man Of La Mancha), Pierre / Red Shadow (Romberg. The Desert Song), Andrei (Milyutin. The Unsettled Happiness), Danilo (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Radjami; Tassilo (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza)
Karl Ots (1882−1961), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1920−1957). Roles: Tristan; Lohengrin; Tannhäuser (Wagner. Tristan und Isolde; Lohengrin; Tannhäuser), Herman (Tchaikovsky. The Queen of Spades), Radames; Manrico; Othello (Verdi. Aida; Il Trovatore; Otello), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Valentin (Gounod. Faust), Raoul (Meyerbeer. Les Huguenots), Pinkerton; Cavaradossi; Rodolfo (Puccini. Madama Butterfly; Tosca; La Bohème), Don José  (Bizet. Carmen), Hoffmann (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Éléazar (Halévy. La Juive)
Heino Otto (1915−1982), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1947−1969). Roles: Lyonel (Flotow. Martha), Ernesto (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Turiddu (Mascagni. Cavallieria rusticana), Cavaradossi (Puccini. Tosca), Don José (Bizet. Carmen), Almaviva (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Seviglia), Gerald (Delibes. Lakmé), Alfred (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Franz (Schubert / Berte. Das Dreimädelhaus), Adam (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler)
Paula Padrik  (b 1926), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1955−1969). Roles: Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Antonia (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Manon (Massenet. Manon), Mimi; Butterfly (Puccini. La Bohème; Madama Butterfly), Queen of the Night (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Lisa (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Marfa (Rimsky-Korsakov. The Tsar’s Bride), Francesca (Rahmaninov. Francesca da Rimini), Sirje (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Lea (Arro / Normet. Lights of the Home Port)
Mati Palm (b 1942). Soloist of the EsNO (since 1969). Roles: Philippe II; Attila; Walter; de Silva; Zaccaria (Verdi. Don Carlo; Attila; Luisa Miller; Ernani; Nabucco), Selim; Don Basilio (Rossini. Il turco in Italia; Il Barbiere di Siviglia), The Dutchman (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Sarastro (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Don Quijote (Massenet. Don Quichotte), Falstaff (Nicolai. Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Boris / Pimen; Ivan Khovanski / Dosifei (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov; Khovanshchina)
Liidia Panova  (b 1928), mezzo-soprano. Chorus singer (1952−60) and soloist (1960−94) of the EsNO. Roles: Amneris; Desdemona (Verdi. Aida, Otello), Marina Mniszech (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Cherubino (Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro), Lubasha (Rimsky-Korsakov. The Tsar’s Bride), Octavian (R Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier), Laura (Ponchielli. La Gioconda), Bess (Gershwin. Porgy and Bess), Herodias (R Strauss. Salome), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Theodore (Kálmán. Die Zirkusprinzessin), Gabrielle (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
ImagetextPaul Pinna  (1884−1949), actor, director. One of the founders of the Estonian National Opera in 1906, actor (1906−1914, 1922−1923, 1927−1941, and 1944−1949). The main roles: Boni (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin), Prince Bogumil (Fall. Der liebe Augustin), Baptista (Schebalin. The Taming Of The Shrew), Kalehas (Offenbach. La Belle Helene), Caesar (Reimann. Distant Coastlines)
Theo Puks (1897−1988), bass. Soloist (1944−19) and chorus singer (1951−1963) of the EsNO. Roles: Doctor; Sparafucile (Verdi. La Traviata; Rigoletto), Zaretski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Deva Sing (Kálmán. Die Bajadere), Fisherman (Ernesaks. The Coast Of Storms)
Sirje Puura (b 1949), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1976−1997). Roles: Butterfly; Mimi / Musetta; Angelica (Puccini. Madama Butterfly; La Bohème; Sour Angelica), Dorabella; Papagena; Susanna (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte; Die Zauberflöte; Le Nozze di Figaro), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Luisa (Prokofiev. Betrothal In A Monastery), Madeleine; (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Ninon; Lisa (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Gräfin Mariza), Franziska (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Väino Puura (1951), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1976). Roles: Renato; Aetius; Miller; Germont (Verdi. Un Ballo in maschera; Attila; Luisa Miller; La Traviata), Papageno; Figaro (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte; Le Nozze di Figaro), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Enrico (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor), Onegin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Silvio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Barinkay; Prime Minister / Zedlau (J Strauss. Der Zigeunerbaron; Wiener Blut), Danilo (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe)
Aleskander Püvi (1921−1997), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1956−1971, 1974−1977). Roles: Othello; Radames; Manrico (Verdi. Otello; Aida; Il Trovatore), Canio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), don José (Bizet. Carmen), Cavaradossi (Puccini. Tosca), Herodes (R Strauss. Salome), Neeme (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Aaro Pärn (1910−1990), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1945−1968). Roles: Sarastro (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Nilakantha (Delibes. Lakmé), Inn-keeper (Ernesaks. The Coast Of Storms), Konchak (Borodin. Prince Igor), Don Basilio (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Don Pasquale (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Tonio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Gremin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Varlaf (Glinka. Ruslan And Ludmilla), Kecel (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Mefistopheles (Gounod. Faust)
Endel Pärn  (1914−1990). Operetta artist of the EsNO (1942−1986). Roles: Henry Higgins (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Sancho Panza (Leigh. Man Of La Mancha), Boni; Koloman Zsupán; Napoleon Saint Cloche (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Gräfin Mariza; Die Bajadere), Benjamin Kidd (Romberg. The Desert Song), Njegus (Lehar. Die lustige Witwe), Würmchen (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Herman Bing (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Dr. Falke (Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Mati (Arro / Normet. Lights Of The Home Port)
Helvi Raamat (b 1947), soprano. Chorus singer (1971−1980) and soloist (1980−90) of the EsNO. Roles: Senta (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Odabella; Amelia; Giuletta; Luisa (Verdi. Attila; Un Ballo in maschera; Un Giorno di Regno; Luisa Miller), Margherita (Boito. Mefistofele), Barbara (Tubin. Barbara von Tiesenhusen), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Mařenka (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Agathe (Weber. Der Freischütz)
Ott Raukas (1911−1962), bass. Soloist of the EsNO (1938−1962). Roles: Philipp II (Verdi. Don Carlo), Colline (Puccini. La Bohème), Don Basilio / Bartolo (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Leporello; Bartolo (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Le Nozze di Figaro), Konchak (Borodin. Prince Igor), Gremin; René (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin; Iolanthe), Daland (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer,), Kaupo (V Kapp. Lembitu), Mehis (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Riina Reinik (1908−1990), operetta artist. Soloist of the EsNO (1931−1944). Roles: Flora (Verdi. La Traviata), Lisa; Anastasia; Anina (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza; Die Csárdásfürstin; Der Teufelsreiter), Malle (Ardna. Girl From The Tatras), Adelaide (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Etelka (Dostal. Die Ungarische Hochzeit), Daisy (Ábráham. Ball im Savoy), Lisi (Beneš. Auf der grünen Wiese), Mi (Léhar. Das Land des Lächelns)
Artur Rinne (1910−1984), baritone. Chorus singer (1929−1934) and soloist (1941−1944) of the EsNO. Roles: Papageno (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Figaro / Bartolo (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia); Chaunard (Puccini. La Bohème), Mercutio (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette), Alfio (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana)
Mait Robas  (b 1925), tenor. Soloist of the  EsNO (1972−1986). Roles: Leemet (Ernesaks. The Coast of Storms), Fenton (Nicolai. Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor), Pedrillo (Mozart. Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Gaston (Verdi. La Traviata), Alfred (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Sellem (Stravinski. The Rake’s Progress), Kulle (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Marta Rungi (1902−1988), soprano. Chorus singer (1925−1935) and soloist (1935−1941 and 1944−1957) of the EsNO. Roles: Nedda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Mimi (Puccini. La Bohème), Gilda; Violetta (Verdi. Rigoletto; La Traviata), Julia; Margarethe (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette; Faust), Vaike (Aav. The Vikings), Mařenka (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Iolanthe; Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Iolanthe; Eugene Onegin), Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon), Antonia (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann)
Helgi Sallo (b 1944), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1965). Roles: Mařenka (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Musette (Puccini. La Bohème), Zerlina; Papagena (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte), Annchen (Weber. Der Freischütz), Frasquita (Bizet. Carmen), Dolly (Herman. Hello, Dolly), Sally (Kander. Cabaret), Aldonza (Leigh. Man Of La Mancha), Mariza; Ninon (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza; Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Maria (Bernstein. West Side Story), Katharina (Porter. Kiss Me, Kate), Gabrielle (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Pippi (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking)
Haili Sammelselg (b 1928), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1964−1984). Roles: Leonora (Verdi. Il Trovatore), Bess (Gershwin. Porgy And Bess), Donna Anna; Pamina (Mozart. Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte), Juta (Aav. The Vikings), Mall (Ernesaks. The Coast Of Storms), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin) Theódore (Kálmán. Die Zirkusprinzessin), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Rosalinde (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus)
Konstantin Savi (1894−1943), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1928−38). Roles: Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Grigori (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Radjami; Tassilo; Sander (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza; Der Teufelsreiter), Jim (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Aristide (Ábrahám. Ball im Savoy), Raoul (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Danilo (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe)
Leonid Savitski (b 1948), bass. Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre (1980−1982), the EsNO (1983−91), Munich State Theatre (1993−98), the Estonian National Opera (since 1998). Roles: Boris / Varlaam / Pimen; Dosifei (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov; Khovanshchina), Gremin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), De Silva; Philipp II / Grand Inquisitor; Wurm; Zaccaria (Verdi. Ernani; Don Carlo; Luisa Miller; Nabucco), Daland (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Commander / Leporello (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Mefistofeles (Boito. Mefistofele), Basilio (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen)
Linda Sellistemägi (1909−81), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1942−1974). Mimi; Butterfly (Puccini. La Bohème; Madama Butterfly), Donna Elvira (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Mařenka (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon)
Jenny Siimon (1905−1982), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1936−1941, 1944−1956). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Olga; Countess (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin; The Queen Of Spades), Lemme (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge), Azucena (Verdi. Il Trovatore), Rosalia (d’Albert. Tiefland), Princess (Dargomizshky. Rusalka)
Tarmo Sild (b 1953), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1980). Roles: Rodrigo; Germont (Verdi. Don Carlo; La Traviata), Enrico (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Sharpless; Marcello (Puccini. Madama Butterfly; La Bohème), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Ottokar (Weber. Der Freischütz), Don Alfonso / Guglielmo (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte), Onegin (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Cyrano (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac)
Sophie Sooäär (1914−1996). Operetta artist of the EsNO (1944−1971). Roles: Valencienne (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe), Anastasia; Mariette; Ninon (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin; Das Veilchen vom Montmartre; Die Bajadere), Vanda (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Azuri / Susan (Romberg. The Desert Song), Anne (Arro / Normet. Lights of the Home port), Malle (Ardna. Girl From The Tatras), Missis Peace (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Rosenblum (Vinter / Raudmäe. Pippi Longstocking)
Jelena Solovjova (b 1934), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1961−1982). Serpina (Pergolesi. La Serva padrona), Sophie (R Strauss. Die Rosenkavalier), Musetta (Puccini. La Bohème), Gilda; Oscar (Verdi. Rigoletto; Un Ballo in maschera), Olympia (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Norina (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Blonde (Mozart. Die Entführung aus dem Serail)
Alfred Sällik (1890−1943), tenor. Soloist and director at the EsNO (1910−1940). Roles: Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Alfredo (Verdi. La Traviata), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Cavaradossi (Puccini. Tosca), Tonio (Donizetti. La Fille du régiment), Erik (Wagner. Der fliegende Holländer), Danilo; René (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe; Der Graf von Luxemburg), Edvin; Mister X; Radjami (Kálmán. Die Csárdásfürstin, Die Zirkusprinzessin; Die Bajadere), Adam (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler)
Jassi Zahharov (b 1954), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1997). Roles: Rigoletto; Nabucco; Jago; Amonasro (Verdi. Rigoletto; Nabucco; Otello; Aida), Tonio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Scarpia (Puccini. Tosca), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), De Quiche (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac)
Leili Tammel  (b 1943), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1973−1999). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Ulrica; Azucena; Eboli; Federica (Verdi. Un Ballo in maschera; Il Trovatore; Don Carlo; Luisa Miller), Marfa (Mussorgsky. Khovanshchina), Ruggiero (Händel. Alcina), Herodias (R Strauss. Salome), Dorabella (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte)
Martin Taras (1899−1968), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1932−1959). Roles: Lohengrin; Tannhäuser (Wagner. Lohengrin; Tannhäuser), Radames; Manrico; Don Carlo; Alfredo; Hertsog (Verdi. Aida; Il Trovatore; Don Carlo; La Traviata; Rigoletto), Cavaradossi; Pinkerton; Rodolfo (Puccini. Tosca; Madama Butterfly; La Bohème), Ernesto (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Neeme (E Kapp. The Flames Of Revenge)
Georg Taleš (1912−1997), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1940−1971). Roles: Rigoletto; Germont; di Luna (Verdi. Rigoletto; La Traviata; Il Trovatore), Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Figaro (Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Tonio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Marcello; Scarpia; Jack Rance (Puccini. La Bohème; Tosca; La Fanciulla del West), Prince Igor (Borodin. Prince Igor)
Urve Tauts (b 1935), mezzo-soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1960−2001). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Eboli; Azucena; Federica; Ulrica (Verdi. Don Carlo; Il Trovatore; Luisa Miller; Un Ballo in maschera), Herodias (R Strauss. Salome), Nurse-maid / Landlady; Marfa (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov; Khovanshchina), Laura (Ponchielli. La Gioconda), Octavian (Strauss. Der Rosenkavalier), Lubasha (Rimsky-Korsakov. The Tsar’s Bride), Celiné (Kabalevsky. Colas Breugnon), Duenna (Prokofiev. Betrothal In A Monastery), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana)
Klaudia Tiidus (1917−1996), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1950−1963). Roles: Violetta; Gilda (Verdi. La Traviata; Rigoletto), Butterfly (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Adele (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus), Tamara (Rubinstein. Demon), Ludmilla (Glinka. Ruslan And Ludmilla), Giulietta (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Susanna (Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro), Juta (E Kapp. Winter Fairy Tale)
Olga Torokoff-Tiedeberg (1902−1964), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1927−1944). Roles: Elisabeth / Venus; Isolde; Elsa (Wagner. Tannhäuser; Tristan und Isolde; Lohengrin), Desdemona (Verdi. Otello), Madeleine (Giordano. Andrea Chénier), Tosca; Mimi (Puccini. Tosca; La Bohème), Manon (Massenet. Manon), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin)
Tiit Tralla (b 1937), tenor. Soloist of the EsNO (1969−2001). Roles: Ernesto (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Narciso (Rossini. Il turco in Italia), Rinuccio (Puccini. Gianni Schicchi), Beppo (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Vašek (Smetana. The Bartered Bride), Suiski (Mussorgsky. Boris Godunov), Monostatos (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte), Hussar (Stravinsky. Mavra)
Annika Tõnuri  (b 1961), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (since 1989). Roles: Rosina (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Fiordiligi; Pamina; Cherubino (Mozart. Cosi fan tutte; Die Zauberflöte; Le Nozze di Figaro), Mariza; Sylva (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza, Die Csárdásfürstin), Arsena; Gabrielle (J Strauss. Der Zigeunerbaron; Wiener Blut)
Silvia Urb (b 1924), Soloist of the EsNO (1954−1972). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Tiiu (Ernesaks. Hand In Hand), Bess (Gershwin. Porgy and Bess), Hanna Glawari (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Theodore; Odette (Kálmán. Die Zirkusprinzessin; Die Bajadere), Lolitta (Kemény. Somewhere in the South), Stella / Lana (Normet. Stella Polaris), Gabrielle (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Eliza (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Katharina / Lilli Vanessi (Porter. Kiss Me, Kate), Margit (Arro / Normet. Lights of the Home Port)
Ia Uudelepp (1913−1983), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1938−1948). Roles: Venus (Wagner. Tännhauser), Julia (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Ninon (Kálmán. Das Veilchen vom Montmartre), Juta (Ardna. Girl With No Homeland)
Els Vaarman (1908−1976), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1935−1944). Roles: Carmen (Bizet. Carmen), Butterfly; Tosca (Puccini. Madama Butterfly; Tosca), Santuzza (Mascagni. Cavalleria rusticana), Marta (d’Albert. Tiefland), Maria (Tchaikovsky. Mazepa), Odette; Mariza (Kálmán. Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza), Hanna Glawari (Lehár. Die Lustige Witwe), Margot (Romberg. The Desert Song), Rose-Marie (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie)
Kalju Vaha (1926−1962). Operetta artist of the EsNO (1940−1948, 1950−1959). Roles: Napoleon Saint Cloche (Kálmán. Die Bajadere), Benjamin Kidd (Romberg. The Desert Song), Sergei (Milyutin. Unsettled Happiness), Wild Herman (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Värdi (Arro / Normet. Rummu Jüri), Njegus (Léhar. Die lustige Witwe), Süffle (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Bogdan (Milyutin. Trembita)
Harri Vasar (1926−1994), tenor. Operetta artist of the EsNO (1960−1981). Roles: Zedlau; Falke / Orlofsky (Strauss. Wiener Blut; Die Fledermaus), Tony (Bernstein. West Side Story), Lauri (Normet. Stella Polaris), Kote (Dolidze. Keto and Kote), Freddy (Loewe. My Fair Lady), Wild Herman (Friml / Stothart. Rose-Marie), Céléstin (Hervé. Mam’zelle Nitouche)
Vootele Veikat (1907−1980), baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1930−1963). Roles: Figaro (Rossini. Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Scarpia (Puccini. Tosca), Demon (Rubinstein. Demon), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Almaviva (Mozart. Le Nozze di Figaro), di Luna; di Posa (Verdi. Il Trovatore; Don Carlo), Silvio (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Ungru Count (Ernesaks. The Coast of Storms), Jeletski (Tchaikovsky. The Queen Of Spades), Igor / Galitski (Borodin. Prince Igor)
Heli Veskus (b 1969), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (since 2001). Roles: Desdemona (Verdi. Otello), Tosca; Mimi (Puccini. Tosca; Madama Butterfly), Nedda (Leoncavallo. Pagliacci), Micaëla (Bizet. Carmen), Agathe (Weber. Der Freischütz), Barbara (Tubin. Barbara von Tiesenhusen), Hanna Glawari (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Gabrielle (J Strauss. Wiener Blut)
Asta Vihandi (1929−1993), soprano. Operetta artist of the EsNO (1950−1985). Roles: Mariza / Lisa; Mariette (Kálmán. Gräfin Mariza, Die Bajadere), Franziska (J Strauss. Wiener Blut), Valencienne (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Kristel (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Anna (Kemény. Somewhere in the South), Lea; Elts (Arro / Normet. Lights of the Home Port; Rummu Jüri), Olesya (Milyutin. Trembita)
Aarne Viisimaa (1898−1989), tenor. Soloist and director at the EsNO (1927−1944). Roles: Romeo; Faust (Gounod. Roméo et Juliette; Faust), Lohengrin (Wagner. Lohengrin), Tamino; Ottavio (Mozart. Die Zauberflöte; Don Giovanni), Pinkerton (Puccini. Madama Butterfly), Lenski (Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin), Eisenstein (Strauss. Die Fledermaus)
Vello Viisimaa (1928−1991), operetta artist at the EsNO (1944−1980). Roles: Boni; Napoleon Saint Cloche; Koloman Zsupán (Kálmán. Die Csardasfürstin; Die Bajadere; Gräfin Mariza), Pappacoda (J Strauss. Eine Nacht in Venedig), St Brioche (Lehár. Die lustige Witwe), Stanislaus (Zeller. Der Vogelhändler), Benjamin Kidd (Romberg. The Desert Song), Toni (Kálmán. Die Zirkusprinzessin)
Karl Viitol (1888−1944), bass / baritone. Soloist of the EsNO (1918−1944). Roles: Wolfram; The Dutchman (Wagner. Tannhäuser; Der fliegende Holländer), Don Pasquale (Donizetti. Don Pasquale), Germont; Rigoletto; Amonasro (Verdi. La Traviata; Rigoletto; Aida), Escamillo (Bizet. Carmen), Leporello (Mozart. Don Giovanni), Scarpia (Puccini. Tosca)
Margarita Voites (b 1936), soprano. Soloist of the EsNO (1969−1990). Roles: Lucia;  Maria; Norina (Donizetti. Lucia di Lammermoor; La Fille du régiment; Don Pasquale), Violetta; Gilda (Verdi. La Traviata; Rigoletto), Fiorella (Rossini. Il turco in Italia), Konstanze (Mozart. Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Alcina (Händel. Alcina), Olympia (Offenbach. Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Lucy (Menotti. The Telephone), Roxane (Tamberg. Cyrano de Bergerac), Rosalinde (J Strauss. Die Fledermaus)

Imagetext

Download: the whole booklet (79 pages, pdf, 1956 KB)

Other records of Estonian National Opera produced by ERP: double-CD Cyrano de Bergerac, DVD Modigliani − the Cursed Artist, Faust, Verdi Wagner 200, double-CD Lembitu, DVD Coppélia, DVD Wallenberg, CD Artist Chagall, CD + bonus DVD Voices of the Estonian National Opera / Estonia ooperihääled, DVD Georg Udukübara aaria
See also: Estonian National Opera at Glasperlenspiel Festival

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