Eesti Rahvusmeeskoor

The choir regularly records for broadcasting companies and has collaborated with Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Finlandia, Alba Records, Virgin Classics and GB Records. Over the past 10 years, the choir has released 10 CDs, including the most recent ones such as Mu isamaa on minu arm (Ernesaks), Silva Caledonia (Bryars, Tulev), Tulelaul (Sink, Lepik, Marguste) and Oma saar (a selection of music by Estonian composers of the 19th and 20th centuries). In 2004, Estonian National Male Choir was awarded with the Grammy Award in the category of choral music for the CD of Sibelius’ cantatas (Virgin Classics) featuring the Girls’ Choir Ellerhein and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (conductor Paavo Järvi). The CD of Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt, recorded by the same musicians, was named the best album of orchestral music in 2005 by BBC Music Magazine. For longer periods, the Estonian National Male Choir has been conducted by Olev Oja, Kuno Areng, Ants Üleoja, Uno Järvela, Harald Uibo, Ants Soots and Kaspars Putnins from Latvia. From the season of 2011/2012 Mikk Üleoja has acted as the principal conductor and creative director of the choir. The choir’s repertoire ranges from the Renaissance Period to the music of the 21st century. A part from Estonian composers, world-renowned composers such as Shostakovich, Taktakishvili, Bryars and Bonato have written music for the choir. RAM has given more than 6,000 concerts all across Estonia, in the major cities of the former Soviet Union, in various countries of Western Europe as well as in Israel, Canada and the United States. During the season of 2010/2011, RAM sung in many concert halls in Estonia as well as in Bremen, Hannover, Leverkusen, Berlin, Paris, etc. In February 2011, the choir took part in the re-opening event of St John’s Church in Saint Petersburg. RAM currently consists of 49 singers. During a season, the choir has an average of 40–50 a cappella concerts and is involved in the renditions of about 5–6 large musical compositions. The choir is conducted by about 15 foreign conductors, of whom at least two prepare an independent a cappella programme.