WINTER 2008/2009 Puppets in Art is Global and Emotional Politics Cooperation 2009 – A Year is the Key Word of Innovation Fish Skin – A New Trend in Fashion ISSN 1406-7331 ● land & people ● state & society ● economy & business ● culture & entertainment ● tourism Price: 75 EEK, 5€ Find out more about investing in ESTONIA Enterprise Estonia Liivalaia 13/15 10118 Tallinn, [email protected] www.investinestonia.com NEWS Executive publisher Lifestyle Publishers Liivaoja 1-4 10155 Tallinn, Estonia www.lifeinestonia.ee Editor Reet Grosberg [email protected] Translation Cover Ambassador Translation Agency Model: Hardi Volmer Photo: Sven Tupits Language editor Richard Adang Layout Positive Design Ltd. Partner LIFE IN ESTONIA 2008/2009 WINTER 3 CONTENT Winter 2008 / 2009 22 Science Centre AHHAA invents and urges others to invent For eleven years, Tartu Observatory has focussed on innovation 6 Where to go this season? and science and the promotion of both, as well as on rais- Life in Estonia recommends ing the awareness of young people. Tiiu Sild, the head of the AHHAA Science Centre believes that they have managed to 8 News bring dozens, or even hundreds, of young people to science 12 Puppets in politics through various shows and exhibitions. Puppets in politics is not a new phenomenon on television. In 25 Heaven, or rather space, most developed democracies, top politicians have been cast in could help Estonian businesses plaster or become 3D animations. In Estonia, a little bit of extra Although today no companies in Estonia could survive by plac- ing all its bets on space projects, the space industry might have a great future in Estonia. What are Estonians doing today in the space area? Tartu Observatory atmospherics physicist Anu Reinart introduces different projects. 29 Innovations created by Estonians enjoyed by superpowers spice is added by the fact that the political slapstick is broad- Estonians are successfully participating in science projects of cast by state television. The main man of the political farce global importance, but the innovative opportunities offered by show “The Soft and the Furry” is Hardi Volmer. these projects remain permanently unavailable to us, due to our small population and poverty. 18 Helping Georgia On 12 August 2008, four days after the Russian attack 32 The Estonian border touching on Georgia on 8 August, a special Estonian Air flight carry- the Great Wall of China… ing humanitarian assistance and emergency relief goods for Valle Feldmann, the representative of Enterprise Estonia in Georgia landed in Yerevan´s Zvartnots Airport. Martin Karner, China, states that the lines from the popular bawdy folk song Second Secretary of the Estonian Embassy in Tbilisi, talks about the Estonian border touching the Great Wall of China are about the Estonian humanitarian assistance to the suffering coming true. Economic relations are developing literally day by Georgian people. day. 4 LIFE IN ESTONIA 2008/2009 WINTER CONTENT 37 A seemingly impossible 55 Design is not only task brought VKG Oil a decoration on a cup, the Innovator 2008 award but also a verb VKG Oil received the Innovator 2008 award from Enterprise With the Year of Innovation just around the corner, it is time Estonia for the implementation of an innovative technology for to look at the practical results of the recently ended Year of separating resorcins. The process that had seemed impossible Design. at first turned out to be possible after all. Therefore, since last January, VKG Oil has been engaged in the industrial production 59 Portfolio – Selection of of 2-methylresorcin, which is used in dark hair dyes and which Estonian paintings sold at Haus gives the hair a reddish-brown tint Gallery auctions 40 Estonian companies forced 67 Art is global and emotional to cooperate Open since 1997, the Haus Galerii/Haus Gallery is one of the Cooperation between companies will help build a more com- best known art galleries in Estonia. Haus was one of the first plex and competitive economy. 44 Great Britain invites Estonian companies Susan Haird, Deputy Manager of UK Trade & Investment, has called upon Estonian companies to invest in Great Britain. The agency offers advice and assistance in getting your business started in the UK and in developing its activities outside the UK as well. galleries in Estonia to organise proper auctions. Hanna Miller interviewed the founder and owner of the gallery, Piia Ausman. 47 World-class ambulance vehicles manufactured in Estonia 73 Rakvere Aqva Hotel & Spa – If a Mercedes had “Made in Estonia” written on it, people one of the few wellness would most probably burst out laughing. Still, for the first time spas in Estonia in Estonia’s motor manufacturing history, an ambulance which The Rakvere Aqva Hotel & Spa opened its doors in May 2008. was rebuilt in a modern and high-class fashion was taken to, Rakvere Aqva Spa’s motto goes as follows: “A smile can and offered for sale at, an international car fair in Germany. The change the world. We wish to give more. We wish for every vehicle itself, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, has been rebuilt as an person to be healthy and happy.” So why not go to Rakvere ambulance by Silvi Autoehituse AS, a subsidiary of Silberauto. and let the water and some leisure time bring joy and colour back into your everyday life! 52 Salmon-skin belt and pikeperch-skin wallet 78 Practical If you feel sorry for the crocodile and the python, but still desire information something authentic and exotic, SkinNova has the solution for for visitors you: their tannery produces valuable skin that comes from... fish! LIFE IN ESTONIA 2008/2009 WINTER 5 WHERE TO GO THIS SEASON Music Director and Conductor: son of Gustavus III of Sweden UN BALLO IN Arvo Volmer (1746–1792) and his assassina- Conductors: Eri Klas, Jüri tion at a masked ball on March MASCHERA Alperten, Mihhail Gerts 16, 1792, has provided material An opera by Giuseppe Verdi Stage Director: Arne Mikk for various interpretations and in three acts Set Designer: Ralf Forsström heated disputes. Nevertheless, Sung in Italian, subtitles in (Finland) it is love and deep feelings, Estonian and English superior to intrigues, that make Premiere on February 13, The opera is about passion, the opera by Verdi memorable. 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Estonian love, political intrigues, people National Opera stuck in the labyrinth of life and Performances: everything that an opera is usu- RESURRECTION February 15, 6 p.m. (subtitles in ally about. The music by Verdi Estonian and Finnish only!) Symphony No. 2 in C minor conveys it in such an authen- by Gustav Mahler 18 and 20 February, 7 p.m. tic, human and timeless way 24 March, 7 p.m. April 11, 2009 at the Estonia that it makes it hard to believe Concert Hall at 7 p.m. 2, 18 and 24 April, 7 p.m. that 150 years have passed 20 May, 7 p.m. since the world premiere of the 9 June, 7 p.m. opera. The complicated per- RESTAURANT & CLUB Conductor: Arvo Volmer Soloists: Monika-Evelin Liiv OPENING TIMES UNTIL 1.04 (Royal Opera House) and Heli Mon-Thu 17.00-03.00 / Fri-Sun 12.00-03.00 Veskus Along with the symphony No. LIVE MUSIC 6 NIGHTS A WEEK 8, symphony No. 2 was the PROGRAM: WWW.CLAZZ.EE/CLUB/ most well-known work by Mahler already during his life- time. He told his friends about his work: „The first movement tells about a funeral and poses a question: is there life after death? The second movement is a reminiscence of the joy- ous events in the lives of the deceased. The third movement discusses the pointlessness of life. The fourth movement is all about one’s wish for release from meaningless life. The fifth movement returns to the doubts of the third movement and the questions of the first, and subsequently ends with a hope of resurrection.” THE THREE MUSKETEERS A ballet by David Nixon to the music by Malcolm Arnold Premiere on April 23, 2009 at 7 p.m. Performances: 25 and 29 April, 7 p.m. 8, 16 May, 7 p.m. Clazz Restaurant&Club 24 May, 12 p.m. Vana turg 2, Tallinn (Opposite of Olde Hansa) 30 May, 7 p.m. Tel. 627 9022 / [email protected] / www.clazz.ee 12 June, 7 p.m. Conductors: Jüri Alperten or Mihhail Gerts 6 LIFE IN ESTONIA 2008/2009 WINTER LIFE IN ESTONIA RECOMMENDS to the stage of the Estonian National Opera. The career of FESTIVAL David Nixon as a stage direc- tor has taken him to many „SUMMER NIGHT renowned theatres worldwide: STARS“ Birmingham Royal Ballet, Komische Oper, German State On June 5 –13, the traditional Opera, Sydney City Ballet, etc. festival Summer Night Stars will be held at the Estonian Choreographer and Stage National Opera. The audi- Director: David Nixon (Northern ANDREA of the Great French revolution ence is rejoiced by acclaimed Ballet Theatre) by tracing the disappointment opera and ballet stars both Set Designer: Charles Cusick CHÉNIER of the young poet Andrea from Estonia and abroad. Smith (England) A concert performance of the Chénier in the ideas of the Costumes: David Nixon opera by Umberto Giordano revolution and his falling in love (Northern Ballet Theatre) May 27, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the with the Countess of Coigny, Lighting Artists: David Nixon Estonia Concert Hall who has fled from the revolu- and Tiit Urvik tionaries. Music arrangement and orches- Conductor: Alexander What is the only thing that tration: John Longstaff Vedernikov (Moscow Bolshoi remains sacred and gives Theatre) hope when everything else, One for all and all for one! The title role is sung by Emil including life, is destroyed in a In cooperation with the cre- Ivanov (Bulgaria) political struggle for existence? ative team of the Northern Chénier’s answer is: only love.