How a young Estonian pianist earned the trust of Arvo Pärt and Sir András Schiff
Few young pianists begin their careers by recording the complete solo piano works of their country’s most celebrated living composer. Yet that is precisely how Tähe-Lee Liiv announced herself to the international classical music world. Her debut album, Diagrams, made her the first pianist to bring together Arvo Pärt’s complete works for solo piano on a single recording, a project she undertook while working closely with the composer himself. At just 19 years old, Liiv had already become one of Estonia’s most promising musical ambassadors.
The recording quickly attracted international attention. Reviewing Diagrams, Gramophone praised Liiv’s performances for demonstrating “a clear and nuanced understanding of what Arvo Pärt’s music is about, in both its spiritual and material forms”—high praise for a debut release centred on one of today’s most influential contemporary composers.
Born in 2003, Liiv has steadily expanded her career far beyond her native Estonia. She has appeared in recital, chamber music and concerto performances throughout Europe, Israel and the United States, collaborating with ensembles including the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, the Jerusalem Camerata Orchestra and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary composers such as Jörg Widmann, while also embracing major Romantic concertos and lesser-known works by Fazıl Say and Estonian composer Ester Mägi.
Another defining moment came when Sir András Schiff selected Liiv for his prestigious Building Bridges initiative, an international concert series showcasing exceptional young pianists. Schiff has taught Liiv at Berlin’s Barenboim–Said Akademie since 2022, and his selection is a significant endorsement from one of today’s most respected pianists.
This summer, Liiv adds another important milestone to her growing career as she appears at the Pärnu Music Festival, performing under the artistic direction of Paavo Järvi. The engagement places her alongside one of Estonia’s leading musical institutions and further confirms her place among the country’s rising generation of internationally active performers.
Her discography is also continuing to grow. Following Diagrams, Liiv will release her second album in 2026 on Da Vinci Classics, featuring works by Jean Sibelius, Einojuhani Rautavaara and Magnus Lindberg. The programme broadens her artistic profile beyond the music of Pärt while maintaining a strong connection to the Nordic repertoire.
Still only 22, Tähe-Lee Liiv has already earned the confidence of two towering figures in Estonian and international music: Arvo Pärt and Sir András Schiff. With an expanding international schedule, major festival appearances and a growing recording catalogue, she is rapidly establishing herself as one of the most compelling young pianists to emerge from the Baltic region.
Where to find Tähe-Lee Liiv
Official website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Subscribe to our newsletter