Alfven: Symphony No 2 in D / Swedish Rhapsody No 1

Neeme Järvi was born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1937 and graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory in 1960. His career started in Estonia, where he co-founded the Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra and was appointed principal conductor of the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1963.

Since emigrating from Estonia to the USA in 1980, Neeme Järvi has been one of the world's most sought-after conductors. He has conducted most of the principal orchestras in the world - the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Philadelphia Orchestra and New York Philharmonic Orchestra, to name but a few. 1982 saw the beginning of his close relationship with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, a collaboration which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2002. After stepping down as principal conductor in 2004, as Emeritus Principal Conductor Järvi's ties with the orchestra remain strong.

One of the world's most recorded conductors, Neeme Järvi is represented on more than sixty BIS CDs. These include complete cycles of symphonies by the Swedish composers Stenhammar and Alfvén as well as his pioneering Sibelius recordings with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and acclaimed cycles of Tubin and Martinů symphonies. Of the many accolades and awards that have been bestowed upon Neeme Järvi, he takes greatest pride in those conferred by his native Estonia. These include an honorary doctorate from the Music Academy of Estonia in Tallinn and the Order of the National Coat of Arms from the President of the Republic of Estonia. Additionally, he has been chosen as one of the 'Estonians of the Twentieth Century'. Neeme Järvi is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and in 1990 he received the Swedish title of Knight Commander of the North Star.