The opening party, originally planned as an open-air event, became the venue of the Valga sports hall due to severe frost, where residents and guests of the parishes of Valga, Tõrva and Otepää gathered to celebrate the start of the cultural year.
The evening’s headliner, Angus, brought winter camo to the mix reggae– and the rhythms of ska music. The band shared the stage with Karmen Rõivaspepa, a jazz singer originally from Valga, who won the title of best jazz composer in Denmark and Estonia at the end of the year.
Since neighbors from the south also came to the party, Tartu 2024 leader Kuldar Leis also greeted in Latvian. Furthermore, Latvian DJ Magnuss Eriņš put on the dancing shoes of the border town’s revelers.
According to Leis, local musicians will also be involved in the upcoming openings of cultural capitals in southern Estonia. Next Friday (12.01) Lõuna-Estoni will perform together reggae– Local Stefan on stage in Viljandi with the band Angus, Uku Suviste from the Võru area (19.01) and folk musician Meelika Hainsoo in Põlva (27.01).
Tartu 2024 Southern Estonia Coordinator Annela Laaneots, Tõrva City Council President Maido Ruusmann, Otepää Mayor Jaanus Barkala and Valga Mayor Monika Rogenbaum welcomed guests from Valga to the party, which has become the cultural capital. “A program of the highest level has been developed: we appreciate the shared culture in southern Estonia. Long live Europe, long live Tartu 2024, Valgamaa and the municipality of Valga!” Mayor Rogenbaum said.
The year of the title of the European Capital of Culture in Tartu begins on January 26 with the opening ceremony “All together!”. Trad.Attack!, Sander Mölder, Lonitseera and many other well-known Estonian artists, actors and dancers will perform at the opening show.
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2024-01-06 07:37:27
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