26.06 at 16.00
Skansen, Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm
The opening concert of ESTO 2025, this time entitled “Windows of Time”, will take place on 26 June. In addition to folk dancers and choirs, professional musicians and gymnasts will also be taking part. In total, there will be around 400 choristers, 200 folk dancers and gymnasts on stage. In addition, Estonian choristers from Australia, Canada and the USA are expected to take part in the General Song Festival.
The production will reveal the history, culture and identity of Estonia through the ages. “The focus of the production is the historical and cultural links between Estonia and Sweden. Skansen was the venue for the first Estonian Song Festival in Sweden in 1948. It had a great unifying and inspiring effect on maintaining the tradition of Estonianism and Song and Dance Festivals in exile. Now, on the eve of the General Song and Dance Festival, we want to introduce Swedes to this powerful tradition that Estonians took with them across the Baltic Sea when they fled the Red Army. We want to share how this tradition helped a small group of people to band together in a foreign land, to preserve their language and culture, and to fight for the freedom of Estonia. Even now, when Estonia is free, the tradition of the Song and Dance Festival is an exceptionally strong and powerful force that unites people, both in Estonia and in Estonian communities abroad. In addition, we also want to tell the Swedes the story that the Estonian Dance Festival tradition has its roots in Sweden. We will also highlight the Idla gymnastics culture, which has been an important bridge in the history of cultural relations between the two countries.
This year’s ESTO is particularly special because exactly one hundred years ago, in June 1925, promoters of Estonian folk dance and youth culture visited Skansen for a major event that inspired Estonians to follow the example of the Swedes in popularising folk dance in their own cultural festivals. The first Estonian General Song Festival in Sweden in 1948 and the inspiration for popularising folk dancing in Estonia in 1925 give Skansen a profound meaning. This is not just a concert, but a historical symbol linking the past, present and future.
We want the concert to instil a sense of pride and recognition in the audience and inspire them to discover their cultural heritage. The inaugural ESTO concert is a symbol of unity and continuity that brings together Estonians from all over the world. In addition, we want Swedish audiences to feel the deeper meaning of Estonian culture – how it has helped to keep Estonians in exile together, how it has evolved over time, and the strong cultural ties that Estonia and Sweden share. It is also important that the younger generation, with their Estonian roots, are inspired to rediscover their ancestral culture.
The opening concert of the ESTO festival, “Windows of Time”, is sure to be a very emotional and powerful production.
Participants:
Eesti Vabaõhumuuseumi Segakoor (Eesti) / Estonian Open Air Museum Mixed Choir (Estonia)
Estonia Koor (Kanada) / Estonia Choir (Canada)
Kooskõlas (Austraalia) / Together in Song (Australia)
Narva Eesti Keele Maja Tandemkoor (Eesti) / Estonian Language House in Narva Tandem Choir (Estonia)
Narva Muusikakooli Noortesegakoor VAIMUSTUS (Eesti) / Narva Music School Youth Misxed Choir INSPIRATION (Estonia)
Stavangeri Eesti Segakoor (Norra) / Stavanger Estonian Mixed Choir (Norway)
Stockholmi Eesti Segakoor (Rootsi) / Stockholm Estonian Mixed Choir (Sweden)
USA Lääneranniku Eesti Koor (USA) / USA West Coast Estonian Choir (USA)
Viimsi Kooli vilistlaskoor ja Viimsi Püha Jaakobi koguduse kammerkoor (Eesti) / Viimsi School Alumni Choir and the Chamber Choir of St. Jacob’s Church of Viimsi
Stockholmi Eesti Naiskoor (Rootsi) / Stockholm Estonian Womens Choir
Seto leelokoor “Leelokandjad” (Eesti) / Seto Runic Choir ‘Holders of Runic Songs’ (Estonia)
Narva Muusikakooli poistekoor (Eesti) / Narva Music School Boys Choir (Estonia)
Rahvusooper Estonia poistekoor (Eesti) / Estonian National Opera Boys Choir (Estonia)
ETV tütarlastekoor (Eesti) / Estonian TV Girls Choir (Estonia)
Stockholmi Eesti Kooli Koor (Rootsi) / Stockholm Estonian School Choir (Sweden)
Stockholmi Eesti Mudilaskoor (Rootsi) / Stockholm Estonian Infants Choir (Sweden)
Andres Lemba (Eesti) – klaver / Andres Lemba (Estonia) – piano
Triin Veissmann (Eesti) – I viiul / Triin Veissmann (Estonia) – Ist violin
Iris Eva Aabloo (Eesti) – II viiul / Iris Eva Aabloo (Estonia) – 2nd violin
Ali Amishov (Eesti) – viola / Ali Amishov (Estonia) – viola
Ekke Rainer Arndt (Eesti) – tšello / Ekke Rainer Arndt (Estonia) – cello
Miina Roost (Eesti) – kontrabass / Miina Roost (Estonia) – contrabass
Evelyn Paju (Rootsi) – flööt / Evelyn Paju (Sweden) – flute
Rahvakunstiselts Leigarid (Eesti) / Folk Art Society Leigarid (Estonia)
Rahvatantsurühm Juhukse (Eesti) / Folk Dance Group Juhukse (Estonia)
Rahvatantsurühm Känd ja Käbid (Eesti) / Folk Dance Group Känd ja Käbid (Estonia)
Segarahvatantsurühm “Ülelahedad” (Soome) / Mixed Folk Dance Group “Ülelahedad” (Finland)
Stockholmi Eesti Rahvatantsurühm Virvel (Rootsi) / Stockholm Estonian Folk Dance Group Virvel (Sweden)
Peterburi Folkloorirühm «Neevo» (Venemaa) / Saint Petersburg Folklore Group «Neevo» (Russia)
Trondheimi Trollid (Norra) / Trondheim Trollid (Norway)
Idla Eesti Selts (Eesti) / Idla Estonian Society (Estonia)
Föreningen Idla (Rootsi) / Föreningen Idla (Sweden)
Viiuliansambel Viiulised ja Rae Huvialakooli rahvamuusikaansambel (Eesti) / Violin ensemble Viiulised and Rae Hobby School Folk Music Ensemble (Estonia)
ESTO president Sirle Sööt
Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norlén
Welcome. President of the Estonian Riigikogu Lauri Hussar
Palvus Diaspora Bishop Ove Sander
Stage Director Aet Maatee
Director (folk dancers) Mall Paulus
Director (gymnasts) Evely Veermäe
Producer Valdo Kask