The evening started with a bang, or should I say pop, with choristers being greeted with a glass of champagne as they arrived. This certainly started the evening off on the right foot!
The first half of the program was dedicated to our music. After a warm-up led by Estonia Koor conductor, Ingrid Silm, each choir performed two pieces from their upcoming spring concerts. Toronto Latviešu Koris, led by conductor Mārtiņš Kuplēns-Ewart, sang two songs Nakts un sapņi and Saule savus kumeliņus accompanied on the piano by Hayden Thomas.
Estonia Koor then stepped up to perform two songs from their upcoming sacred music concert, Lootus by Urmas Sisask – a song about the power of hope – and Oh Aadam, sino essitüs by Margo Kõlar – a song that was featured in the 2025 Estonian Song Celebrations in Tallinn. Adding colour to this song were violinist Kati Hui who did her best to imitate the sound of the original torupill (Estonian bagpipe) solo written for this piece, supported by piano accompanist Linda Norheim-Brookes.
Now it was time to sing together!
Conductor Mārtiņš taught the entire group a lovely Latvian piece entitled Lūgšana by composer Imants Kalniņš, which speaks of the singer’s love of their homeland. It took a couple of tries, but with the support of our Latvian friends, the Estonians managed to pronounce the text effectively and sing almost all of the notes correctly! It was a joy to sing in such a lovely, combined choir.
The Latvians insisted on having Estonia Koor’s master chef Ann Aaviku’s delicious and beautiful sandwich cake… The Latvians were also very generous with their sweet table, ensuring there were goodies for everyone and then some.
The choirs then went on to share delicious treats provided by both groups. The Latvians insisted on having Estonia Koor’s master chef Ann Aaviku’s delicious and beautiful sandwich cake, which they had enjoyed at our last joint rehearsal. Ann did not disappoint. The Latvians were also very generous with their sweet table, ensuring there were goodies for everyone and then some.
Once our stomachs were full and our stories shared, the evening ended with a joint singing of the traditional Latvian Pūt, vējiņi! / Puhu tuul in both languages. It was a magical evening and we look forward to working together again soon. Many thanks to Toronto Latviešu Koris for arranging a wonderful evening and for their ongoing friendship.
Should you wish to hear more from these two lovely choirs:
- Toronto Latviešu Koris is holding their spring concert, In the Shadow of the Sun, on Saturday, May 23 at 3 pm at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church of Toronto, 200 Balmoral Avenue.
- Estonia Koor will be presenting a concert of sacred music entitled Mu süda, ärka üles on Saturday, May 9 at 3 pm at Agricola Lutheran Church, 25 Old York Mills Road.
