This year’s national song festival continued the tradition set in 1999, namely that the festival consists of two very different concerts. The repertoire on the first day is somewhat more demanding, including pieces from Estonian and Western choral music as well as vocal and symphonic music. The concert features all of Estonia’s professional choirs and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The second day echoes well-established tradition, with the programme consisting entirely of the works of Estonian composers. The artistic director of the song festival was Ants Soots.

CHIEF CONDUCTORS:

Kadri Hunt (kids’ choirs), Aarne Saluveer (children’s choirs), Hirvo Surva (boys’ choirs), Ants Soots (men’s choirs), Raul Talmar (women’s choirs), Heli Jürgenson (mixed choirs), Peeter Saan (brass bands).

As always, Kalev Stadium hosted the national dance festival, which this year had a maritime theme. Audiences enjoyed a total of three performances. The idea of the dance festival came from Henn Tiivel; its artistic director was Ülo Luht.

The song and dance festival received a proper introduction in the form of an instrumental music festival, featuring around 200 folk musicians from ensembles and individual players.

The song and dance festival, which went by the title ‘Breathing as One’, brought together 864 choirs and orchestras, with 26,430 singers and musicians, and 534 dance and gymnastics groups, with 7460 dancers and gymnasts. A further 41 foreign groups also took part, with a total of 1340 singers, musicians and gymnasts.

The concerts and performances of the national song and dance festival were attended by 162,489 people.

The 26th song and dance festival will be held from 4-6 July 2014.