Welcome to Jaan Rääts Centre

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Welcome to Jaan Rääts Centre —

“In New York, Carniege Hall, we even had to repeat concerto for chamber orchestra op.16 on the demand of the audience.”

Rudolf Baršai, 1964

Gift from Dmitri Shostakovich to Jaan Rääts - "To dear Jaan Rääts, with fond memories. — Shostakovich."

3.04.1955, Tallinn

“24 Preludes and Fugues for piano parts I and II” with dedication.

Original: “Дорогому Яану Ряэтсу на добрую память”. Шостакович.

”To dear Jaan Rääts, with fond memories”. - Shostakovich

3.04.1955, Tallinn”

Dmitri Shostakovich talks about the music of the young composer Jaan Rääts, in an interview for the magazine “Kultuur ja Elu”, in 1968. Read more

In April 1974, Jaan Rääts Symphony no.7 Op.74 (1972) was conducted by Maxim Shostakovich, son of Dmitri Shostakovich, by the United Televsion and Radio Orchestra.

𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻

In photo: Jaan Rääts, Aram Khatchaturian, Jaan Koha

“Aram Khatchaturian greetings to Jaan Rääts, 10. March 1976:

Dear Jaan!
Please accept my greetings! I remeber you, your talent has always attracted my attention.

Aram Khatchaturian

In the photo: Jaan Rääts, Aram Khatchaturian, Jaan Koha
(Jaan Rääts personal archive)”

After hearing a rehearsal of one of Jaan Rääts’s symphonies, Mstislav Rostropovich was so impressed that he asked for the work to be played again. Shortly afterwards, he commissioned a Cello Concerto from the composer, a work that is now included in the catalogue of Warner Classics.

Cyprien Katsaris performs Jaan Rääts Toccata - compulsory work in International Tchaikovsky Competition 1970. Toccata was chosen to the competition by Emil Gilels. Read more

The distinguished composer Rodion Shchedrin mention the Estonian composer Jaan Rääts in his memoirs, recalling him with gratitude as someone who stood up for younger composers and contemporary music within the Soviet musical establishment. The memoir is available in English at Maya Plisetskaya & Rodion Shchedrin Foundation. Read more