Together with the people of Ukraine!

Today, 6 March 2022, another charity concert took place in the Concert Hall of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where creative people expressed their support for the people of Ukraine in their fight against the Russian aggressor for the right to choose their own path.

I cannot remember such an uplifting atmosphere as the one in the hall, where music and spirit merged into one.  

Works by Ukrainian and Estonian authors were performed by the EAMT choir and chamber orchestra conducted by choral conducting lecturer Hirvo Surva and students Ode Purga and Valle-Rasmus, Oksana Loginova (piano) and Olena Brazhnyk (soprano), Georg Maaten (violin), Erki Pärnoja, poet Katia Novak-Botnar, Russian Theatre actors Aleksandr Zhilenko, Dmitri Kosjakov, Anna Sergejeva-Marvin, Viktor Marvin, Natalja Murina, Anastassia Tsubina-Aleksejeva, Ivan Aleksejev, and lecturers of the Drama School Lembit Peterson, Indrek Sammul, Külli Tamm and students of the Drama School’s 30th class.

The concert was directed by Marta Aliide Jakovski, a student of the Academy’s Drama School. It was a true directorial triumph for a future top professional.

“With our concert we want to support Ukraine and Ukrainians, who are fighting for their freedom and for a dignified future for all of Europe at the cost of extraordinary suffering and trial. Today it is the duty of every person with a conscience to help and support the people of Ukraine,” said Rector Ivari Ilja in his opening remarks.

All ticket proceeds will go to the Estonian Red Cross in support of the people of Ukraine. Donations could also be made by donation phone lines and in cash on site to Estonian Refugee Aid to help Ukrainian refugees. 

Every performer and every listener wore a blue-and-yellow ribbon, and a blue-and-yellow banner hung over the stage from ceiling to floor. 

For us Ukrainians who attended this charity event, it was extremely moving to feel such an expression of love, unity and boundless support. Together we sang the anthems of Ukraine and Estonia, as well as “Ta lendab mesipuu poole”, a kind of Estonian national testament.

The audience gave an especially warm welcome to works by Ukrainian authors Lesia Ukrainka, Myroslav Skoryk and Andrii Shtoharenko performed by Georg Maaten, Olena Brazhnyk and Oksana Loginova, while Sviatoslav Vakarchuk’s song “Myt” (“A Moment”) performed by Aleksandr Zhilenko, Dmitri Kosjakov, Anna Sergejeva-Marvin, Natalja Murina, Anastassia Tsubina-Aleksejeva and Ivan Aleksejev received a storm of applause.

The two-hour programme was built so subtly and meaningfully that the listener felt at one with the music and the poetry. 

Before performing Vakarchuk’s “A Moment”, Aleksandr Zhilenko once again thanked the Estonian people, state and artists from the stage for such incredible support for the people of Ukraine!

“Glory to Ukraine!” rang out once again at the end of the concert from conductor Hirvo Surva.