Solistid

Solistid is the Estonian term for soloists, referring to performers who are highlighted as the principal voice in a musical program. A soloist is a musician or singer who performs a solo voice or part within a larger work, or who appears as the principal artist in a recital or concerto. In classical music, the soloist often performs a virtuosic passage with orchestral accompaniment and is responsible for shaping the melodic line with individual expression; the relationship between the soloist and the ensemble is central to the musical architecture of the piece. Soloists appear in concertos, concert arias, recital programs, and many chamber works in which a single performer takes prominence.

In opera and vocal music, soloists are the leading singers who deliver arias and other featured numbers; in instrumental music, soloists such as violinists, pianists, and cellists perform concertos or featured passages with orchestras or ensembles. The term also extends to modern jazz, pop, and world-music contexts, where a designated performer serves as the principal improvising voice within a group setting.

Solists typically train at conservatories or music universities, advance through competitions and auditions, and engage with orchestras, opera houses, festivals, and touring programs. Some musicians hold ongoing positions as house soloists with a company, while others work mainly as guest performers.