To Breathe As One

Since 1869, Estonians have held massive song festivals where more than 30,000 people have taken the stage to sing. Choirs and singers have to audition, and the end result is stunning to see and hear.

The first song festival was held as a national unification event while Estonia was under Czarist rule. Since that time, Laulupidu has been held 24 times.

Gustav Ernesaks (above) participated in every single Laulupidu that was held under Soviet occupation. He lived to see Estonia restored to independence in 1991 and died a free man in 1993.

Join our mailing list