The Estonian version of this article (Meenutades poisse Eestist New Yorgis—Raudse eesriide viimsed päevad) was published by Vaba Eesti Sõna on May 23, 2024. Here are my recollections of a moving and unique concert that took place 36 years ago this June by a superb boys choir from Estonia. At the time, they were the first cultural ensemble to visit the United States from Estonia since World War Two. Estonia was still under Soviet occupation, and among the audience were many of those who had been forced to flee their homeland and had not seen it since.
I attended that concert along with five hundred others including my mother, whose photo from the event was published by this same newspaper at the time and my father, a hardened self-described Estonian patriot whose tears fell while singing along as best he could with the boys’ rendition of America the Beautiful.
I was able to use my own memories of the event, news reports from old newspapers, an archival film of the entire concert by Kalju Meri, and interviews.
I am grateful to Valnar Neidre, then a twelve year old chorister, and now a grown man in Estonia who warmly shared his memories of the event.
Read in English about the special alchemy of that evening here.
The original Estonian article with photos
Lyric Overtones 