Tallinn hosts first Baltic Opera Gala 'Vana Tallinn'

On September 4, the stage of the Estonian National Opera and Ballet in Tallinn hosted the first-ever Baltic Opera Gala 'Vana Tallinn', featuring leading soloists from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The concert marks the start of a new annual cooperation format that will henceforth be held in turn in each of the three Baltic countries.

The gala was made possible by a cultural agreement signed last year between the national opera houses of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, aimed at expanding creative cooperation and introducing audiences to the best opera performers of the Baltic region. The program was jointly prepared by the chief conductors of the three opera houses — Arvo Volmer, Mārtiņš Ozoliņš and Ričardas Šumila.

According to Ott Maaten, general director of Estonia's National Opera, the Baltic Opera Gala will now be held every year, while the traditional Vana Tallinn Gala will also remain an annual local tradition for Estonian opera audiences.

Soloists from three countries

Estonia was represented at the concert by soprano Kadri Raalik, bass Raiko Raalik and tenor Yiswuan Wang, Lithuania by soprano Gabrielė Bukinė and baritone Steponas Zonys, and Latvia by mezzo-soprano Irma Pavāre and tenor Mārtiņš Šmaukstelis. The orchestra and choir of the Estonia theatre also performed, with Arvo Volmer conducting.

The next Baltic Opera Gala will take place on May 8, 2027, in Lithuania, while the Vana Tallinn Gala will return to Estonia's National Opera in late summer 2027. A recording of the concert will be made available through the national broadcasters of all three Baltic countries. In Estonia, the concert aired on the evening of September 5 at 21:35 on ETV, with the recording later available on the Jupiter platform.