Alar Karis - President of Estonia

Alar Karis trained as a molecular geneticist and developmental biologist, and after a distinguished academic career became director of the Estonian National Museum. In October 2021 he was elected as the sixth president of Estonia. Travelling for work, he listens to classical music and subscribes to BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone for recommendations.

- Amanda Holloway

My parents encouraged me to play piano and violin, and my mother especially was keen to take me to musical events, including the opera. I was about five when I was taken to Verdi's Rigoletto, and the old ladies behind me said, 'Why do the parents bring this young boy to the opera? He doesn't understand a thing. They were probably right, but I did cry at the end and I remember trying to copy the arias at home.

Robertino Loreti was one of my favourite singers, and I sang Italian songs in the hairdressers when I was a boy. They stood me on the chair and people queued to hear me sing 'O sole mio'! Also as a child, I was taken to organ concerts in Riga Cathedral. It took five long hours to get there, a two-hour concert and then five hours back late at night. When we recently had a state visit to Riga, they knew about this and they brought me to Riga Cathedral to hear the organ again.