Resurfacing in Cincinnati
Mary Ellyn Hutton
Posted: Jul 15, 2009 - 1:07:06 PM in
news_2009
A photo essay of the 2009 Estonian National Song Celebration, from the arrival of the flame in Tallinn Harbor July 2 (analogous to the Olympic torch) through the first concert at the Song Festival Grounds July 4. (All photos by Mary Ellyn Hutton)
Tule tulemine (Estonian for "arrival of the flame"). An onshore crowd awaits the
arrival of the Song Celebration flame in Tallinn harbor July 2, 2009. The flame began its journey three weeks before the Song Celebration in the city of Tartu, where the first National Song Celebration took place in 1869. It traveled completely by water this year, over rivers inland to the Baltic Sea, then by boat to Tallinn.
Dancers prepare to celebrate the arrival of the flame.
A young girl in the crowd climbs on top of a bench to try to spot the flame.
The torchbearer carrying the flame passes through the crowd.
Singers and dancers in colorful national costumes celebrate the There arrival of the flame.
Singers and instrumentalists gather July 4 on Narva maantee ("road") in Tallinn for the procession to the Song Festival grounds.
Estonians in native costume wait for the procession to begin. Women and
girls traditionally wear flowered wreaths.
The torchbearer carrying the flame leads the procession to the Song Festival Grounds.
Men carry the blue, black and white Estonian flag.
Choirs from 11 other countries participated in the 2009 Estonian National Song Celebration. Here is a group from Finland.
The girl on the left is waving the Swedish flag.
A men's choir from Canada.
This group is from the U.S. The young girl on the right also carries an Estonian flag.
Aarne Saluveer, Estonian choral conductor well known for his work with children's choirs, greets the crowd. Young fans register their approval.
An Estonian women's choir in colorful national dress.
Song Festival Grounds. The amphitheater, built for the 1960 Song
Celebrations, holds 15,000 singers and is situated on the shore of the
Baltic Sea at the foot of a steep embankment.
Singers fill the amphitheater for the opening massed choir segment of the
program (24,705 singers). Heard were the national anthem "Mu isamaa mu õnn ja rõõm" ("My
Native Land, My Joy, Delight") and works by Estonian composers Mihkel
Lüdig, Veljo Tormis, Aleksander Kunileid, Aare Kruusimäe and Urmas
Sisask. A total of 26,430 singers and musicians from 864 choirs, brass
bands and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra participated in the
2009 Song Celebration. The crowd, estimated at 120,000, was the largest
since 1991, when Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet
Union. Choirs from 11 foreign countries, totaling 1,340 singers also
participated.
Paavo Järvi greets visitors from Cincinnati, Ohio where he is music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Left to right are Nick Tsimaras, Peter Courlas, Melody Sawyer Richardson, Järvi, Vicky Motch, David Motch, Farah Palmer, John Palmer and Jody Veith. Not pictured is Joan Rieveschl.
Estonia's first family sits in the front row. President Toomas Hendrik
Ilves is seated far right next to daughter Kadri and wife Evelin.
At the beginning of each
Song Celebration, the flame which has traveled from Tartu is carried to the top of the 12-story
Fire Tower adjoining the amphitheater. The crowd cheers as it is displayed on each succeeding floor. The flame burns throughout the two-day Song Celebration.
Ants Soots, artistic director of the Song Celebration, leads Aare
Kruusimäe's "Maailma Avastamine" ("Discovering the World"), newly
composed for the 2009 event. Soloist is boy soprano Heldur Harry Põlda
(in white jacket on the platform at the foot of the stage).
Near midnight and with rain falling steadily, Paavo Järvi leads the
men's choirs in "Pilgrim's Chorus" from Wagner's "Tannhäuser." The Song
Celebration flame burns in the background.
And no, those are not stars in
the sky, but raindrops on the camera lens.
(to be continued)
