Mati Lukk

Co-Principal

MATI LUKK double bass
Member of ERSO 1981–1990 and from 2000
Associate Principal Double Bass 1985–1990 and from 2023
Principal Double Bass 2000–2023

Mati Lukk studied cello at Tallinn Music High School under Laine Leichter and, from 1974, double bass in Kaupo Olt’s double bass class. He graduated from Tallinn Music High School in 1979 and from the Tallinn State Conservatoire (now the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) in 1984, both under the guidance of Kaupo Olt.

Mati Lukk was awarded a diploma at the Soviet Union-wide Double Bass Competition in Petrozavodsk in 1984. He was awarded First Prize for Young Performing Artists in 1985, the Gold Medal of Merit of the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras (Suomen Sinfoniaorkesterit ry) in 1992, and the annual award of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia for his concert activities in 2002.

In addition to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO), Mati Lukk worked with the Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra from 1980 to 1983 and with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland as assistant principal double bass from 1991 to 1999. From 2001 to 2026, he taught at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, serving as Associate Professor from autumn 2015.

Mati Lukk has performed with the Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Kuopio City Orchestra, Le Concert Olympique, Hortus Musicus Academic Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, and the Estonian Festival Orchestra. He has also performed as a member of Barocco Revaliensis, Turku Ensemble, Corelli Consort, Corelli Baroque Orchestra, Tallinn Baroque Orchestra, NYYD Ensemble, and YXUS Ensemble.

Mati Lukk has appeared as a soloist with ERSO on numerous occasions, performing Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto under conductors Peeter Lilje, Vello Pähn, and Arvo Volmer; giving the Estonian premiere of Koussevitzky’s Double Bass Concerto under Toomas Vavilov in 2011; and performing the Estonian premiere of Rautavaara’s double bass concerto Angel of Dusk. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto under Paul Mägi, and with the Estonian Radio Variety Orchestra in Dragonetti’s Double Bass Concerto in A major under Peeter Saul.

Mati Lukk gave his first solo recital in 1984 with pianist Signe Hiis-Kübar. His chamber music partners have also included Nata-Ly Sakkos, Lea Leiten, Kairi Vavilov, and Reet Ruubel.

From 2001 to 2003, Mati Lukk was one of the organisers of the Hiiumaa Chamber Music Days. In 2004 and 2014, he organised the double bass music events Ludvig Juht 110 and Ludvig Juht 120. In 2021, he organised the first nationwide Estonian Double Bass Music Days in Alatskivi and Vadi.

Mati Lukk has made numerous recordings for the archives of Estonian Public Broadcasting, including Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto (ERSO, conductor Peeter Lilje, 1988; ERSO, conductor Toomas Vavilov, 2004), Koussevitzky’s Double Bass Concerto (ERSO, conductor Toomas Vavilov, 2004), Rautavaara’s double bass concerto Angel of Dusk (ERSO, conductor Toomas Vavilov, 2012), Hindemith’s Sonata for Double Bass and Piano (1985), Bottesini’s Nel cor più non mi sento (variations on a theme by Paisiello, 1985), Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Symbiosis (2002), and music for double bass quartet performed by the ERSO Double Bass Quartet (2003–2004).

In cooperation with ERSO and Estonian Public Broadcasting, the CD Contrabassissimo! was released in 2012, featuring Mati Lukk, ERSO, and conductor Toomas Vavilov in double bass concertos by Koussevitzky, Tubin, and Rautavaara. Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto, performed by Mati Lukk with ERSO under Peeter Lilje, was also released on LP in the ERSO Soloists series (Melodiya, 1990).