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Tallinn - Culture |
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Tallinn Theatre
Tallinn is a city of culture with a very rich historical legacy. In December 1997, UNESCO inscribed the Old Town of Tallinn into the list of World Heritage List. Many traditional events have found their place in the cultural life of Tallinn. In every five years the Estonian Song and Dance Festival takes place in Tallinn, which begins with a festive parade of the performers to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. The song festival tradition has been followed for more than a hundred years and helped the Estonians to preserve their identity during the years under Soviet rule. The
population of Tallinn has been characterised by growth throughout its
history, but since the beginning of the 1990s the population has started
to decrease, mostly because of negative natural growth and emigration (the
latter mainly due to the emigration of citizens of the former Soviet
Union). Tallinn is a lively capital city with
Estonia's government, embassies, culture, entertainment, commerce and
industry all The Days of the Old Town which have been the key annual event in the life of Tallinn during the last seventeen years begin on the first weekend of June and include five days full of performances, concerts and exhibitions. The event attracts performers and audiences from other parts of Estonia and from abroad. Tallinn is well known for its high standard of choral music, demonstrated by local choirs such as the National Male Choir, the Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Tallinn Boys Choir, the children’s choir Ellerhein, and others. Well-known and famous cultural events include the international festival of choir singing, the organ festival (which will take place for the twelfth time this summer), the jazz music festivals Tudengijazz and Jazzkaar, the folklore festival Baltica, the festival of modern music NYYD, festivals of oriental music, and many others. The eight districts of Tallinn also have their traditional events such as Nimme Spring, Lasnam Days, the Sea Days, Kadriorg Days, days for the young in North Tallinn, and the Festival of Sculpture. All these events include numerous concerts, open air performances, and art events. The directing bodies of all churches in Estonia and the residences of the heads of these churches are located in Tallinn. Lutherans are the most numerous denomination and they have assembled into the Tallinn Deanery, which joins 9 congregations. The Orthodox Church has 7 congregations in Tallinn. The total number of congregations in Tallinn exceeds 30. Theatres The major theatres in Tallinn are: the Estonian National Opera, the Estonian Drama Theatre, the Estonian Puppet Theatre, the Russian Drama Theatre, the Old Town Studio, the Tallinn City Theatre, the VAT Theatre, the Salong Theatre (Salon Theatre), the Von Krahl Theatre, the union Vaba Lava (Free Stage), Theatrum, and Teine Laine (Second Wave).
There are more than 15 exhibition halls in Tallinn. The Tallinn Art House and its galleries belong to the state, the others to private individuals. Large international fairs take place in the pavilions of Estonian Exhibitions. Museums The 15 museums of Tallinn and their 13 branches also act as scientific institutions. The oldest museum is the Estonian History Museum which was founded in 1842 and which has exhibits from all over the world. The Tallinn City Museum has a permanent exhibition on the history of Tallinn since the 13th century. The Estonian Art Museum is famous for its large and valuable collection of art. The Estonian Open Air Museum at Rocca-al-Mare introduces traditional farm architecture. Concert Halls The best known concert halls in Tallinn are the Estonia Concert Hall, the Estonia Winter Garden, the Tallinn City Hall, the Niguliste Museum-Concert Hall, the concert hall in the Town Hall, Mustpeade Maja, Väravatorn, Matkamaja, the Teachers House and Kloostri Ait. The best place for open air concerts is the Song Festival Grounds, which is also venue for the Estonian General Song Festivals which take place once every five years. Libraries There are 30 libraries in Tallinn, and the biggest of these is the Estonian National Library (its funds include 1 950 000 books, 255 000 periodical publications, 148 000 graphic arts materials, 12 300 map publications, 25 000 sound recordings). The Tallinn Central Library that was opened in 1907 is one of the oldest in Estonia and the number of its branch libraries has now grown to 22. Other places where the people of Tallinn enjoy spending their leisure time are numerous cultural centres, youth houses, hobby schools and day centres for the middle aged and the elderly. Tallinn
International Jazz Festival 23.04. - 30.04.2000. |
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headquarter here. The city has a population of 495 000. In
few places in Europe does the aura of the 14th and 15th centuries survive
intact as it does in Tallinn’s medieval walls and turrets, needling
spires and winding, cobbled hills? Tallinn’s Old Town is judiciously
restored, fascinating to explore. The site of Tallinn fronts a bay of the
Gulf of Finland and its thought to have been settled by Finno-Ugric people
about 2500 years BC. In the medieval years Tallinn joined the
German-dominated Hanseatic League as a channel for trade between Novgorod,
Pskov and the west. At the city's heart, just south of the bay, is the Old
Town (Vanalinn), which divides fairly neatly into two parts, Toompea - the
hill that dominates Tallinn - and the Lower Town spreading out from
Toompea's eastern side.
Exhibition
Halls