Icelandic Day in Tallinn

Twenty years ago, Iceland was the first country to recognise Estonia's independence from the Soviet union. As a gesture of gratitude there was a special day here in Tallinn on August 21st devoted to Icelandic culture where Icelandic musicians, writers, photographers, chefs and designers came to show their art to the Estonian nation.

It was really nice to see Tallinn become like my local 101 Reykjavík for a day, as different as these cities are! Plenty of familiar faces around and such a pleasure it was to walk between different events in the old town.

Me and Tui organised a concert under our label Konveier for the festival with Icelandic chamber music in the Swedish St. Michael's church in the old town of Tallinn, performed by Estonian musicians. One of them, Atli Ingólfsson, also came specially to Tallinn to attend the concert, which definitely made the event even more special.

Program:

Páll Ragnar Pálsson - Skip hangandi úr lofti í kirkju (Ship Hanging from the Ceiling of a Church) for piano  trio
Atli Heimir Sveinsson - Plutôt Blache Qu'azurée I and II (Rather White than Sky Blue I and II) for clarinet trio
Atli Ingólfsson - Forbidden Mantra for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano

Encore:

Arvo Pärt - Spiegel im Spiegel

Conductor: Taavi Kull

Performers: Karolina Normak - violin, Laur Eensalu - viola, Margus Uus - cello, Marion Aruvee - flute, Marten Altrov - clarinet, Liisa Hirsh - piano.

Below are pictures taken earlier the same day during a rehearsal.