{"id":7306,"date":"2025-05-05T10:50:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T07:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/?p=7306"},"modified":"2025-06-27T01:05:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T22:05:40","slug":"esto-opening-concert-windows-of-time-bringing-together-the-past-present-and-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/esto-opening-concert-windows-of-time-bringing-together-the-past-present-and-future\/","title":{"rendered":"ESTO Opening Concert \u201cWindows of Time\u201d bringing together the past, present and future"},"content":{"rendered":"

26.06 at 16.00<\/strong>
\nSkansen, Djurg\u00e5rdssl\u00e4tten 49-51, Stockholm<\/strong><\/p>\n

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To attend the opening concert of ESTO, you can get a day ticket to Skansen, which can be purchased on the Skansen website or on site at the main entrance box office. Buy your Skansen ticket HERE>><\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
Free for ESTO pass holders and performers (with wristband)!<\/strong><\/div>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
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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.<\/h3>\n

\nThe 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The opening concert of the ESTO festival, “Windows of Time”, is sure to be a very emotional and powerful production.<\/p>\n

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Participants:<\/h3>\n
Mixed Choirs <\/strong>
\nEesti Vaba\u00f5humuuseumi Segakoor (Eesti) \/ Estonian Open Air Museum Mixed Choir (Estonia)
\nEstonia Koor (Kanada) \/ Estonia Choir (Canada)
\nKoosk\u00f5las (Austraalia) \/ Together in Song (Australia)
\nNarva Eesti Keele Maja Tandemkoor (Eesti) \/ Estonian Language House in Narva Tandem Choir (Estonia)
\nNarva Muusikakooli Noortesegakoor VAIMUSTUS (Eesti) \/ Narva Music School Youth Misxed Choir INSPIRATION (Estonia)
\nStavangeri Eesti Segakoor (Norra) \/ Stavanger Estonian Mixed Choir (Norway)
\nStockholmi Eesti Segakoor (Rootsi) \/ Stockholm Estonian Mixed Choir (Sweden)
\nUSA L\u00e4\u00e4neranniku Eesti Koor (USA) \/ USA West Coast Estonian Choir (USA)
\nViimsi Kooli vilistlaskoor ja Viimsi P\u00fcha Jaakobi koguduse kammerkoor (Eesti) \/ Viimsi School Alumni Choir and the Chamber Choir of St. Jacob’s Church of Viimsi<\/div>\n
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Womens Choirs<\/strong>
\nStockholmi Eesti Naiskoor (Rootsi) \/ Stockholm Estonian Womens Choir
\nSeto leelokoor \u201cLeelokandjad\u201d (Eesti) \/ Seto Runic Choir \u2018Holders of Runic Songs\u2019 (Estonia)<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Boys Choirs <\/strong>
\nNarva Muusikakooli poistekoor (Eesti) \/ Narva Music School Boys Choir (Estonia)
\nRahvusooper Estonia poistekoor (Eesti) \/ Estonian National Opera Boys Choir (Estonia)<\/div>\n
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Girls Choirs <\/strong>
\nETV t\u00fctarlastekoor (Eesti) \/ Estonian TV Girls Choir (Estonia)<\/div>\n
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Childrens Choirs<\/strong>
\nStockholmi Eesti Kooli Koor (Rootsi) \/ Stockholm Estonian School Choir (Sweden)
\nStockholmi Eesti Mudilaskoor (Rootsi) \/ Stockholm Estonian Infants Choir (Sweden)<\/div>\n
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Conductors:<\/strong> Andrus Kalvet, Jaanika Kuusik, Kaspar K\u00f5rvits, Aarne Saluveer, Jaan Seim, Hirvo Surva<\/div>\n
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Musicians<\/strong>
\nAndres Lemba (Eesti) \u2013 klaver \/ Andres Lemba (Estonia) \u2013 piano
\nTriin Veissmann (Eesti) \u2013 I viiul \/ Triin Veissmann (Estonia) – Ist violin
\nIris Eva Aabloo (Eesti) \u2013 II viiul \/ Iris Eva Aabloo (Estonia) \u2013 2nd violin
\nAli Amishov (Eesti) \u2013 viola \/ Ali Amishov (Estonia) – viola
\nEkke Rainer Arndt (Eesti) \u2013 t\u0161ello \/ Ekke Rainer Arndt (Estonia) \u2013 cello
\nMiina Roost (Eesti) \u2013 kontrabass \/ Miina Roost (Estonia) \u2013 contrabass
\nEvelyn Paju (Rootsi) \u2013 fl\u00f6\u00f6t \/ Evelyn Paju (Sweden) \u2013 flute<\/div>\n
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Folk Dance Groups<\/strong>
\nRahvakunstiselts Leigarid (Eesti) \/ Folk Art Society Leigarid (Estonia)
\nRahvatantsur\u00fchm Juhukse (Eesti) \/ Folk Dance Group Juhukse (Estonia)
\nRahvatantsur\u00fchm K\u00e4nd ja K\u00e4bid (Eesti) \/ Folk Dance Group K\u00e4nd ja K\u00e4bid (Estonia)
\nSegarahvatantsur\u00fchm \u201c\u00dclelahedad\u201d (Soome) \/ Mixed Folk Dance Group “\u00dclelahedad” (Finland)
\nStockholmi Eesti Rahvatantsur\u00fchm Virvel (Rootsi) \/ Stockholm Estonian Folk Dance Group Virvel (Sweden)
\nPeterburi Folkloorir\u00fchm \u00abNeevo\u00bb (Venemaa) \/ Saint Petersburg Folklore Group \u00abNeevo\u00bb (Russia)
\nTrondheimi Trollid (Norra) \/ Trondheim Trollid (Norway)<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Gymnasts<\/strong>
\nIdla Eesti Selts (Eesti) \/ Idla Estonian Society (Estonia)
\nF\u00f6reningen Idla (Rootsi) \/ F\u00f6reningen Idla (Sweden)<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Folk Musicians<\/strong>
\nViiuliansambel Viiulised ja Rae Huvialakooli rahvamuusikaansambel (Eesti) \/ Violin ensemble Viiulised and Rae Hobby School Folk Music Ensemble (Estonia)<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Speeches<\/strong>
\nESTO president Sirle S\u00f6\u00f6t
\nSpeaker of the Swedish Parliament Andreas Norl\u00e9n
\nWelcome. President of the Estonian Riigikogu Lauri Hussar
\nPalvus Diaspora Bishop Ove Sander<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Artistic director<\/strong> Hirvo Surva
\nStage Director<\/strong> Aet Maatee
\nDirector (folk dancers)<\/strong> Mall Paulus
\nDirector (gymnasts)<\/strong> Evely Veerm\u00e4e
\nProducer<\/strong> Valdo Kask<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n

Admission<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
To attend the opening concert of ESTO, you can get a day ticket to Skansen, which can be purchased on the Skansen website or on site at the main entrance box office. Buy your Skansen ticket HERE>><\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n
Free for ESTO pass holders and performers (with wristband)!<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[32,85],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7306"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7306"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7307,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7306\/revisions\/7307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estofestival.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}