Outdoor exposition “Touched by Time. Song Celebrations Throughout the Years“ was opened by the Admiralty basin at Old City Harbour

On May 13^th, as a result of Estonian Theatre and Music Museum’s, Port of Tallinn’s and Estonian Dance and Song Celebration Foundation’s collaboration an exposition "Touched by Time. Song Celebrations Throughout the Years" was opened by the Admiralty basin at Old City Harbour.

The exposition gives an overview of the 145-year-old Estonian song and dance celebration tradition and is set up in honour of this summer’s 26th song celebration and 19th dance celebration taking place in July 4-6. A colourful and comprehensive picture of tradition’s formation is given with materials based mostly on Estonian Theatre and Music museum’s collections.

“We have emphasized the visuals but have also pointed out some of the characteristics symbolic to different eras and celebrations. For example, the song celebration of 1950 is insistently red. Different symbols also show the growth of the event – when mixed choirs, women’s choirs and children’s choirs joined the celebration,“ explained Tanel Veeremaa, the Director of Estonian Theatre and Music Museum.

Hirvo Surva, the Art Director of the 26th Song Festival, said that the touch of time is felt in the creation of our predecessors. “Similarly to this summer’s song celebration’s first day concert “Touched by Time“, that gives an overview of the songs that have previously sounded at song celebrations, the exposition opened at the harbour reflects the touches of celebrations held at different times. The exposition gives everyone a wonderful opportunity to get into the song celebration mood,“ added Surva.

Ain Kaljurand, the Chairman of the Management Board of Port of Tallinn, noted that it was a pleasure to offer people the joy of exploring in the city: “Estonia’s biggest sea gate is an ideal place for introducing one of the most important symbols of Estonian culture. We hope that both, tourists and Estonian people from Tallinn and other Estonian places find themselves walking at our Old City Harbour area and get acquainted with the story of this summer’s 26th song celebration and 19th dance celebration by the touch of time.“

Also, a unique 9 x 3 meters panorama photo depicting Tallinn Song Festival Grounds was opened on the other side of the Admiralty basin. Endel Grensmann, the author of the photo, captured the moment of choirs singing „It flies toward the honey tree“ at previous song celebration titled “To Breathe as One” in 2009.

The exposition will be up by the Admiralty basin in Old City Harbour until April 2015.

See the picture gallery of the exhibition and the opening ceremony >>