In a landmark moment for Iran’s classical music scene, Paniz Faryousefi made history by becoming the first woman ever to conduct the Tehran Symphony Orchestra. The breakthrough performance took place over two nights at Tehran’s prestigious Vahdat Hall, under the concert series titled “Simorgh’s Abode.”

In her debut release Love & Loss, composer and pianist Zhanna Dzhurayeva bridges the worlds of classical tradition and modern sound design with sensitivity and emotional power. Recorded at Insane Sounds in Fort Lauderdale and produced by Salvatore Monteleone, the four-track EP transforms deeply personal experiences into a musical tale, narrative of love, grief, and resilience.

As a bookworm, sometimes I like to read a collection of short stories instead of tackling a thick novel. With Inner Compass, we are witnessing a similar experience, a collection of short stories by Andreas Wolff, told not through words but through sound. Each piece is a self-contained narrative, yet together they form a continuous emotional journey. Composed over six years, these twelve piano works feel like fragments of a personal diary, moments of joy, longing, peace, an

There are albums that entertain, and there are albums that speak. Unspoken Conversations, the latest release by pianist and composer Barry DeGroot, belongs firmly to the latter. It is an intimate collection of seven instrumental pieces where every note feels like a fragment of an unspoken dialogue between the heart and the piano. Rooted in neo-classical and new age aesthetics, the album unfolds as a tender confession, a private diary finally shared with the world after years

I don’t particularly believe in the idea that a single deity created the universe with a plan, but I do believe in some composers who do, among them J.S. Bach and the great Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

As one of the most celebrated Estonian composrs, Arvo Pärt turns 90 on 11 September 2025. His life’s work stretches over turbulent political eras, spiritual searching, radical stylistic change, and global acclaim. In this blog post we explore Pärt’s lifetime achievements, his place in Estonian and world music, and the many events marking this milestone birthday.

On 5 September 2025 as part of the Fringe Festival, Tallinn will host the Estonian premiere of Divine Sonata, a large-scale piano work by composer and pianist Arashk Azizi, inspired by Dante Alighieri’s timeless masterpiece, the Divine Comedy. The concert takes place at Süda saal, Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum at 18:00, where the composer himself will perform.

Persian Tunes Concert by Arashk Azizi

Estonia, despite its small population of just over 1.3 million, holds a significant place in the world of classical music. Over the past century, Estonian composers have contributed works of striking originality, blending Baltic folk traditions with contemporary trends. From the early 20th century’s national romanticism to today’s digitally distributed works, Estonia’s music scene has continually evolved, embracing new creative and technological possibilities.

Pastorale, the new collaborative album by ARIA-nominated trio East of West and acclaimed Sydney-based composer and pianist Romano Crivici, is not just a collection of pieces—it’s a journey across musical landscapes. Blending Balkan rhythms, Middle Eastern melodic phrasing, contemporary classical textures, and jazz-influenced improvisation, this album unfolds like a multilingual conversation spoken through instruments. With each track, the listener is invited into a richly wov

When a composer like Lauré Lussier releases a new work, one does not approach it lightly. His previous compositions, haunting, intricate, often cinematic, have already established him as a contemporary voice who blurs the lines between orchestration, sound design, and storytelling. Driftsways by Lussier takes another bold step forward. This two-part electroacoustic work, comprised of “Themes & Variations” and “Rondo,” is less a collection of pieces than it is a sonic architec

Australian composer and pianist Andrew Keese has announced the release of his forthcoming album Illuminator, alongside a series of European concert dates set for summer 2025.

Among the new generation of Estonian composers, Tõnu Kõrvits has emerged as one of the most poetic and emotionally resonant musical voices of his homeland. Drawing from a rich cultural heritage, his music blends contemporary classical language with folk motifs, dreamlike textures, and a sense of quiet introspection. Known for his deeply atmospheric soundscapes and evocative orchestrations, Kõrvits is not only a prominent composer in Estonia but also increasingly recognized on

Gravity of the Ocean by Aliya Lark, the London-based neoclassical composer and pianist, is a six-track instrumental work that blends felt piano, ambient textures, delicate strings, and subtle electronics. Released on July 18, 2025, the album marks the next step in her emotionally nuanced musical storytelling—a sound world already praised by BBC Radio 3 and featured on Spain's AD21 Music.

The new single release by the renowned pianist and composer Alessandra Toni is a musical gem waiting to be discovered. See You Again by Alessandra Toni is a poignant, cinematic piece that gracefully blends her delicate piano touch with the emotive presence of the string trio “OP3.” Together, they breathe life into a soundscape that feels both personal and universal—a moment suspended between memory and longing.

As someone who has had the honor of working with Matteo Ramon Arevalos, listening to his new album LEO felt like stepping once more into a realm of sonic wonder—a place where the familiar transforms and the piano becomes not just an instrument, but a world.

Iran’s musical heritage is one of the oldest in the world, rooted in centuries of rich modal systems and poetic traditions. While traditional Persian music has always played a central role in Iranian identity, the incorporation of Western classical music began in earnest during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, particularly in the early 20th century.

When we think of contemporary classical music, our minds often immediately jump to Western orchestral or electronic instrumentation—or experimental textures made from unconventional sounds. But in the event of Iranian Music Evening at Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia, the concert centered around a traditional Iranian instrument and gave us a compelling example of contemporary classical expression with deep cultural roots.

Music is often described as the most abstract of the arts, yet it has the power to shape images, stir emotions, and tell stories without a single word. In her debut album The Best Chapter, Italian composer and pianist Alessandra Toni does exactly that. Each of the twelve tracks feels like a finely sculpted conic form—shaped with precision, depth, and poetry. Her music doesn’t shout—it breathes, it unfolds. And through this carefully woven journey,

When I first encountered the music of Lauré Lussier, I wasn’t prepared for how deeply it would stir me. There’s a palpable breath in his compositions—something alive, something not imposed but revealed, unearthed. Though I sensed the subtle hand of minimalism, what truly captivated me was how seamlessly he integrates orchestral language with natural and synthetic soundscapes. His works don’t simply use sound—they become it.