The closing concert of the Vanemuine Concert Hall season

Estonian National Male Choir
Conductor Mikk Üleoja
Tartu Academic Male Choir
Conductor Roland Viilukas

The closing concert of the Vanemuine Concert Hall season, “Kevadtormis”, brings together two of Estonia’s most powerful male choirs—the Estonian National Male Choir and the Tartu Academic Male Choir. With nearly 100 singers on stage, the result is an exceptionally rich and resonant sound that’s rarely heard live.

At the center of the program is Veljo Tormis, whose music often draws from ancient Finno-Ugric roots. His large-scale work based on the Kalevala’s seventeenth rune (Vipuses käimine) anchors the first half. Tormis had a unique ability to transform folk material into something almost ritualistic, and in a male choir setting—especially with nearly 100 singers—it can feel less like a concert piece and more like a living myth unfolding.

The second half of “Kevadtormis” unfolds as a richly varied journey through different sound worlds and emotional landscapes. At its core remains Veljo Tormis, whose folk-inspired works and the evocative “Incantatio maris aestuosi” carry a sense of ancient ritual and elemental force. This primal energy is set in striking contrast to the spiritual minimalism of Arvo Pärt, whose miniatures draw listeners inward with their clarity, restraint, and meditative stillness.

The program then softens into more lyrical expression. Miina Härma’s “Homesickness” and Ester Mägi’s “One Moment” offer warmth and emotional intimacy, grounded in Estonia’s national romantic tradition. These are complemented by the atmospheric sensitivity of Tõnu Kõrvits, whose “Moon” (from Three Songs from Dolores’ Songbook) shimmers with delicate color, and the introspective depth of Pärt Uusberg’s “What is a Person?”, which reflects on human existence with quiet intensity.
To round off the program, György Orbán’s “Daemon irrepit callidus” injects rhythmic vitality and playful energy, lifting the atmosphere with its drive and vivid character.

Altogether, it promises a memorable finale to the season: bold, immersive, and emotionally charged.