During centenary week, Estonians abroad and friends of Estonia around the world organized over 50 events, ranging from concerts to movie nights to celebrate the state’s centenary.
The Festival Baltikum, dedicated to the centenaries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania respectively, kicked off last week in Germany at the prestigious Konzerthaus Berlin. Opening night featured the music of Arvo Pärt and Maarja Nuut. The festival’s highlight was the presentation of Rudolf Tobias’ oratorio “Jonah’s Mission” with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, led by Neeme Järvi. On the weekend, the Konzerthausorkester Berlin directed by Kristjan Järvi will perform two concerts. The Estonian National Opera Boys Choir and Raivo Tafenau Quintet will also perform concerts at the same venue on the weekend.
In Tbilisi, the Vox Clamantis vocal ensemble will perform, while in Tel Aviv this week, this year’s Mustonenfest is dedicated to Estonia’s centenary and features the girls’ choir Ellerhein and chamber choir Voces Musicale. The ESTuudio Youth Choir are performing in Sydney, the chamber choir Collegium Musicale in Beirut, and top instrumentalists Virgo Veldi (saxophone), Andreas Lend (cello) and Irina Zahharenkova (piano) in Helsinki.
In addition to music, the Estonian Contemporary (Performance) Art Festival “UUE”, dedicated to the centenary, will be on at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. In Budapest, an exhibition of Estonian photographers will open entitled “Tell me. The Contemporary Portrait in Photography “.
Estonian communities abroad celebrates the centenary week with dozens of events all over the world – in addition to European countries, events will take place in Canada, the United States, Singapore and Colombia.
The Estonia 100 international program began last year, together with Estonia’s first ever half-year Presidency of the Council of the European Union, during which nearly 130 events took place. During the centenary year, more than 140 events are being held abroad and the program is constantly growing. The Estonia 100 international program will run until the end of 2018.
Anna Lindpere
Estonia100
