Jaan Rääts Concerto for Chamber Orchestra no. 1 op.16 (1961) - one of the most played concertos and business card of Estonian music in the world, was premiered by Tallinn Chamber Orchestra In 1961, in the assembly hall of the ​University of Tartu, under the direction of Neeme Järvi.

The international success of the concert was facilitated by the Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, who, fascinated by the rhythmicity of the concert, introduced the score to Rudolf Baršai, the creator and conductor of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.

On January 26, 1963, Jaan Rääts' work was performed by the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Rudolf Baršai in Paris, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. On October 17, 1963, the concert premiered at The Royal Festival Hall in England. In October 1963 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the concert was received with a standing ovation, where the final of the concerto was repeated. In 1964, Concerto for Chamber Orchestra No.1 Op.16 was performed by Rudolf Baršai and Moscow Chamber Orchestra at the contemporary music festival "Warsaw Autumn" and "Prague Spring". 

In 1972, the Moscow Conservatory's Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Mikhail Terian, with Concerto for Chamber Orchestra no.1 op 16 won the gold medal in the World Youth Orchestra Competition of Herbert von Karajan In Berlin. 

Video recording from Pärnu Music Festival 2017, conductor Neeme Järvi and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra.