About Martin Kuuskmann – Grammy nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Martin Kuuskmann's charismatic and commanding performances throughout the world have earned him repute as one of the leading solo instrumentalists today. The New York Times praised Kuuskmann's playing as “…the amazing bassoonist…Kuuskmann played stunningly…”Constantly pushing the boundaries for new artistic and technical possibilities, Kuuskmann has premiered eight bassoon concertos, all written and dedicated to him by some of the foremost composers of our time — Erkki-Sven Tüür, Eino Tamberg, Tõnu Kõrvits, Christopher Theofanidis, David Chesky, Gregor Huebner, Gene Pritsker and Charles Coleman, Ülo Krigul, Miguel Kertsman as well as a new concerto by Gene Pritsker. Kuuskmann's collaboration with composers including Daniel Schnyder, Helena Tulve and jazz icon John Patitucci have lead to numerous new solo works from bassoon and string quartet to amplified bassoon and electronics. Kuuskmann has performed Michael Daugherty's madcap concerto “Dead Elvis” across the world nearly 50 times and won the prestigious German Record Critics Prize in 2001 with Absolute Ensemble and the recording of “Dead Elvis.”
His recent performances have included a concert in Carnegie Zankel Hall with American Composers Orchestra and a concert with Kristjan Järvi and Baltic Youth Philharmonic. Kuuskmann has appeared numerous times as soloists with Neeme Järvi and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Sinfonietta Riga, Macao Orchestra, Absolute Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra of the Norrlandsoperan, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, 1B1 Ensemble to name a few. Known for his skillful performances of the monumental solo work by Luciano Berio, Sequenza XII, Kuuskmann was invited as a guest soloist in 2008 for the New York Philharmonic's “Day of Berio” in Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, which in turn evoked the New York Times to write “…Kuuskmann offered virtuoso technique with superhuman breath control.”.
A frequent guest in festivals, Kuuskmann appears regularly at the Pärnu Music Festival, Bremen Musikfest, as well as Landsberg, Kuhmo, Gaia, Umeå, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, to name a few. As an avid chamber musician Kuuskmann is a co-founder of the Berlin based Trio Mann along with oboist Christoph Hartmann (Berlin Philharmonic) and pianist Hendrik Heilmann, exploring a wide range of repertory from solo chamber music to trios. For the last several years Kuuskmann has appeared regularly, under the invitation of Paavo Järvi, as a solo bassoonist in the Pärnu Music Festival Orchestra.
A graduate of the Yale and the Manhattan Schools of Music, Kuuskmann's mentors include Stephen Maxym, Frank Morelli, Ilmar Aasmets and Rufus Olivier. As an avid educator, Kuuskmann taught at the Manhattan School of Music Contemporary Performance Program (2007-2012) and currently teaches at Cornish College of Arts in Seattle. He serves as the woodwind coach of the Baltic Youth Philharmonic and teaches regularly at the Arosa Music Academy in Switzerland. Kuuskmann is a founding member and solo bassoonist of the New York City based Absolute Ensemble. An artist of Bernd Moosmann bassoons, Miller Marketing Company, artin Kuuskmann plays on the Moosmann 222 model bassoons.
Although times have changed, the need to remind the world of our small country and our rich artistic and musical heritage is as urgent now as it was years ago, particularly as “the Bear” is once again rustling the bushes. This is why I am organizing our first event with the EAC:
On April 26, 2015 1:30 at Agricola Lutheran Church we will have our first large event: a chamber orchestra concert “Mälestuskilde Muusikas”, a concert primarily celebrating Lembit Avesson's 90th birthday. Many of the works presented will be a world premiere performance and others will be North-American premieres. The concert will open with Avesson's Symphony in G – one of his later compositions never performed. It is in a modern musical language with hints of traditional western harmonies. The Symphony is in three movements: it begins with a very traditional slow introduction and then transitions into a fast allegro theme. There are sections which remind us of Prokofiev's music with its sarcastic and defiant overtones. The second movement combines the two traditional symphonic movements – a slow melodious movement and a dancelike scherzo movement. The last rhythmic movement finishes the piece with a victorious tonality. Perhaps what is most interesting about this piece is the instrumentation: string orchestra, two flutes, two horns and a piano. To a listener, it may sound at times more like a piano concerto than a symphony.
The second large work by Avesson on this program is his Psalm of Praise for Chorus, Strings and organ. This is a very beautiful and uplifting piece written for a church setting in praise of Almighty God. Toronto's well known choral group “Cantabile Chamber Singers” will join us on stage. In addition you will hear two solo songs, performed by our revered baritone Avo Kittask, and two pieces for solo piano, presented by our beloved Asta Ballstadt.
In the second half of the concert we will play a rare piece for strings by Roman Toi: “Rahvasuust” and two pieces by Kaljo Raid- Divertimento and Concertino for Bassoon, Oboe, Drum and Strings. World-renown bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann will be one of the guest soloists playing the solo in Concertino and, under the cover of secrecy I can tell you that he will play a movement from Mozarts' Bassoon concerto as well. You do not want to miss it!
All of the above named Estonian composers lived and worked among us for very many years, giving their lives and talents to serve the “Estonian cause”. It is most fitting to celebrate their lives and enjoy the beauty of the music given to us through their efforts.
This project is not only production of a concert but we are also planning to record a CD so that an audio version of the music is archived and available to future generations. The music one can readily hear gives value to music written on paper and stored in boxes. This recording will be the second in a series “Estonian Composers in North America”.
I am also asking for your assistance: as you can imagine, a project such as this is quite an expensive undertaking, requiring community support. To date we have $10,000 towards expenses, with a shortfall of $5,000.00. If you see the merit in celebrating and preserving the life work of the artists in our community, feel you can help us and would like to be a part of this meaningful event, we would be very thankful. Donations are tax deductible, please forward to: Toronto Eesti Maja, 958 Broadview Ave., Toronto, ON M4K 2R6 c/o Eesti Kunstide Keskus,
Viljar P. Weimann
President, EAC
