Sügisesild Islandile

TO ICELAND IN THE AUTUMN BREEZE!

Three bridges connect Estonia and Iceland during the cultural evening "Autumn Bridge to Iceland": live music, food, and stories.

Iceland is a special friend of Estonia - the first country to recognize the newly independent Republic of Estonia in 1991. To express gratitude for the recognition, the square in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia was renamed ‘Islandi väljak' (Iceland Square), and the address of the ministry is Islandi väljak 1 (1 Iceland Square).

In the last three decades, there has been an "invasion of Estonian music teachers" in Iceland because the interest in music education is high in Iceland, and Estonians are highly valued teachers with their excellent teacher education. At the turn of the century, as many as a quarter of the teachers at music schools in this small country were from Estonia. Some music teachers have remained permanently Icelandic, while others have returned one language and culture richer. One of these returnees is Mait Trink, who started his career as a professional musician in Estonia as a baritone of the Vanemuine Theatre Opera Choir and as the leader of the British Isles folk music ensemble named Folk Highlights Orchestra. Mait Trink, who lived in Iceland for six years, shares memories of life in the land of volcanoes, glaciers, and hot springs, where there are only twenty sunny days a year and the primary season is a long and wet winter. Mait Trink's performance includes Icelandic, Estonian, and English language pieces to reflect his musical development at the crossroads of cultures.

Pesa Catering builds the food bridge. The caterer offers a dinner inspired by Icelandic cuisine. As an island nation, Icelanders cannot imagine their life without fish dishes, so the evening menu includes smoked trout as an appetizer. Iceland is said to have two sheep for every person and a long tradition of preparing lamb dishes. So, the main course of the evening is the stewed lamb with potatoes baked in ash. In the dessert, the crucial component is probably the most renowned Icelandic milk product in Estonia - skyr (pronounced "skeer" or "skir" in Iceland and "skir" in Estonia). Skyr could be described as a blend of curd and yogurt. How it tastes as a cake with blueberry addition, you must experience yourself!

The event will symbolically take place in the former Räpina Music School building, a community house called Koiva Maja today.

Project "Three bridges across the border" is a part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 main programme. The activities of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 are supported by A. Le Coq, Delfi Meedia, Topauto, and Lux Express. In the series, four cultural evenings are organized during 2024, where three bridges help the participants cross the river of alienation: music, food, and stories. "Autumn Bridge to Iceland" in Räpina marks the end of an extraordinary year in South Estonia when we have been the cultural capital of Europe.

Photo: Thomas Vonhoegen/Getty Images