Eino Tamberg was music director at the Tallinn Drama Theatre from 1952, worked as a sound engineer for the Estonian Radio from 1953, was a consultant in the Estonian Union of Composers from 1960, and taught composition at the Estonian Music and Theatre Academy from 1968.[3] He composed Cyrano de Bergerac, an opera in three acts and an epilogue, in 1974, setting a libretto that Jaan Kross based on Rostand 's 1897 play.[4] The composer said in an interview that he was attracted to the title character, who had "a subtle nature of a poet" and was "a bold sword fighter. His scale of emotions ranges from poignant humour to the deepest of tragedies".[3]
The premiere was on 2 July 1976 in the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn. It was revived in Tallinn in 1995 and 2005 and was the first Estonian stage production broadcast internationally by Euroradio.[3]
The opera was broadcast live from the Tallinn opera house in 1995, with music by the Estonian National Opera.[5] It was recorded in 2000 with the same cast in the major roles at the Estonia Concert Hall.[5][1][6] A reviewer noted the conductor's ability to enjoy romanticism without triviality, and good work from the orchestra. He wrote that Tiilikainen delivered a convincing portrait of the hero's character, and that Huhta's part was inspired by Monteverdi's music, from the period when the action takes place.[2]
