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EESTI ELU reedel, 21. veebruaril 2020 — Friday, February 21, 2020
Nr. 7
The Nightingale joyfully sings on Kati Kiilaspea On Monday, February 3rd, the Toronto Academic Mixed Choir “Ööbik” had a special practice dedicated to celebrating our 25th anniversary, which actually occurred on the prior day. Songs were rehearsed and refined and then it was time to celebrate! Delicious hors d’oeuvres were served along with a champagne toast dedicated to the legacy of the choir. Everyone was in a great mood and it was nice to see choir veterans and newer members laughing and joking together. Even the choir motto, which was sung as the night drew to a close, had fresh life and power breathed into it. It’s important to honour the history of the choir, so here’s a little more about the past 25 years. The idea to start a new mixed choir came in the winter of 1994 from Mall Puhm, who decided to gather members of the Estonian community who were active especially in the music scene to discuss the pos sible formation of the choir. The thought was for the choir to be based out of Tartu College (TC) and call it their home and thanks to the generous financial support and interest from then president of TC Elmar Tampõld, idea became reality. “Ööbik” would belong under the umbrella of the TC Cultural Program and would hold their practices in the large hall. Mr. Tampõld was honoured as patron and honour ary member of the choir. The Toronto Academic Mixed Choir was officially established on February 2nd, 1995. But why is it named the Toronto Academic Mixed Choir “Ööbik?” In the beginning, it was anticipated that the choir would catch the interest of people already associated with Estonian fraternities and sorori ties. The name “Ööbik,” or nightingale, comes from one of Lydia Koidula’s texts which one
of the choir founding members Charles Kipper wrote the music for and which became our motto. It’s called “Teretamine” (“Welcoming”) and the last two lines of the song say it all: “Nightingale, go and find your friends, bird of the mother land…” The choir ended up attracting many people from outside of the academic organi zations, including music teachers and generally people with a love, interest, and some kind of background in music. All of a sudden, “Ööbik” took off! Within the past few years, we’ve also attracted many new, younger members who love singing with us because we have a diverse and interesting repertoire, ranging from classi cal music to pop. The choir has participated in several song festivals, the “LaLaLaager,” has organized its own singing camp in Collingwood for a couple of days at the end of the summer, and performs continually at events and functions organized by the Estonian community. The conductor is undoubtedly the most crucial and important part of the choir, they keep everything together and hold the reins. The first conductor was Charles Kipper from 19952002, followed by Rosmarie Lindau to present day who shared duties with Asta Ballstadt for a few years in between. But a choir also requires a chairman or woman, the first of which was Avo Kittask from 19951997 aided by Mall Puhm. The current chairwoman is MarisAnn Vanaselja, co-chairwoman is Elli Kipper. Although the choir had a celebration last week, there is more to come! What better way to celebrate and honour the choir than a Simmaree. Sim marree is a combination of sim man (festival) and kabaree (cabaret) which was a term then choir member Allan Liik coined for the fundraising concert the choir would put on once a year.
Ööbik on their 25th anniversary February 3rd, 2020.
Photo: Jüri Laansoo
They traditionally feature a com bination of singing, dancing, solo and ensemble performances, and acting. Some themes over the years have been “Under the Sea,” “Back to the Future,” and “Nights on Broadway” to name just a few. Each Simmaree fea tures a unique illustration of the front of the program which veteran choir member Tõnu Altosaar has traditionally crea ted. This years concert will take place on the evening of May 23rd at Estonian House, so save the date! The theme will be “Joy” and we have a night full of skits, humour, ensemble and solo performances, and of course, choir music in store for you. More info to come shortly so stay tuned and come cele brate our landmark anniversary with us!
Parliament passes… (Continued from page 15)
Besides, a rule is set out for cases where a ship operates trips both in Estonia and elsewhere. In such case the tonnage-based arrangement can be applied when the number of Estonian port calls makes up less than 50 percent of the total number of port calls.
,,Ööbik“ on their first anniversary 24 years ago
First row: Elsi Truant, Anneli Jaeggin, Tamara Norheim-Lehela, Charles Kipper, Mall Puhm, Avo Kittask, Erika Pahapill, Allan Liik. Second row: Elle Orav, Alliki Arro, Tiina Otema, Alli Vähi, Marje Laansoo, Aime Hanslep, Kersti Lepik, Tiina Timusk. Third row: Andres Raudsepp, Kai Hansson, Reet Lindau-Voksepp, Maret Pajo, Anne Altosaar, Selma Hogg, Mare-Lii Eelnurme, Aino Uus. Fourth row: Urmas Migur, Aksel Pügi, Jaak Riga, Tõnu Altosaar, Jüri Laansoo, Rein Pajo, Juhani Eistrat, Mati Matsoo, Ülo Isberg.
Director Ardo Ran Varres and actor Aleksander Eelmaa after the performance recently of the one-man play “Sümfoonia ühele” (Symphony for one) written by Donald Tomberg. The theatre group Tartu Uus Teater was able to retain the audience’s undivided attention of this production with intertwined classical music, Estonian history, a radio quiz program, the personal history of the lone character on stage – all laced with gentle humour. Eelmaa, a celebrated stage veteran in Estonia portrayed masterfully someone who communicates with a non-human, the radio. An innovative production, skilfully staged with technical support that required split second timing. Photo: Estonian Life
The law also makes it clear that in the case of a group of companies, the tonnage-based income tax regime can be applied not just to one com pany, but to all companies of the group which meet valid conditions. A physical person whose in come is taxed based on a fixed
tax base will in the future not be eligible to any of the deduc tions permitted by law under the regular regime, such as deduction of the costs of the ac quisition of pension fund units. The restriction applies only to the income earned as a ship crew member. The law is to step into force on July 1, 2020.
Riigikogu…
ders of unprecedented extent in human history, in genocides, deportations and loss of life and freedoms; Calls on the Government of the Republic to support the preservation of authentic his torical memory both in Estonia and in the whole world, so that the crimes of totalitarian regimes would not be forgotten, because knowledge of history increases the capability to resist the threats endangering democracy; Considers it necessary to support activities that promote historical memory and remem brance in Estonia and the mem ber states of the European Union; Stresses the need to speak about the crimes of totalitarian regimes and the threats to de mocracy throughout history at the general education schools of Estonia, and to include these topics in the curricula; Calls on supporting the pro jects that perpetuate the me mory of the victims of totalitar ian regimes.”
(Continued from page 14)
Expressing support to Poland and other nations whom the Russian Federation has recently blamed for the outbreak of World War II, The Riigikogu, Condemns the attempts of the authorities of the Russian Federation at rewriting history, denying the role of the Soviet Union as one of the main initia tors of World War II and laying the blame on the victims of the aggression; Underlines that World War II became possible as the direct outcome of the Treaty of Nonaggression between the National Socialist Germany and the Soviet Union, or the MolotovRibbentrop Pact, and its secret protocols, signed on 23 August 1939; Reiterates that Nazi Ger many, the communist Soviet Union and other totalitarian regimes are guilty of mass mur
