Founder and producer of the record label ECM Manfred Eicher has received an honorary doctorate from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater (EMTA) "in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding creative cooperation with Estonian musicians."
The doctorate was presented to Eicher by Peep Lassmann, the rector of EMTA, at the opening concert of the Nargenfestival celebrating the launch of composer Tõnu Kõrvits’ first album
Mirror under the record label ECM. The concert featured the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, with soloists Anja Lechner and Kadri Voorand and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, playing music composed by Kõrvits.
Fellow EMTA honorary doctor, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, was amongst the guests. Pärt's first album
Tabula Rasa was published on ECM in 1984 and became the basis of the “ECM New Series” focusing on new Western classical music.
Eicher was also previously awarded an honorary doctorate from Brighton University in 2000.
