Conductor Neeme Jarvi, who “turned 66 in June, left Estonia in 1980, but retains enormous patriotic affection for it. Jarvi’s word is magic in his home country, where he played a key role in inspiring the construction of the new Parnu concert hall and a new opera house and concert hall scheduled to open in 2008 in Tallinn, the capital and Jarvi’s hometown. He is an active participant in Estonian musical life, returning annually to conduct and teach at the academy that bears his name.”