Estonia second in world by number of opera performances per million residents
According to statistics recently published by Operabase, Estonia holds the second place in the world in a ranking of total opera performances per million residents.
The statistics took into account the performances during the 2013/2014 season. Austria holds the first spot, followed by Estonia, Switzerland and Germany.
Estonian National Opera had 20 operas in its program and gave a total of 108 opera performances in the 2013/2014 season.
The Vanemuine Theater in Tallinn also produces operas. It currently has two operas by Estonian composers, as well as Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida", Georges Bizet's "Carmen", and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" in its repertoire.
Estonian National Opera has a history dating back to 1870. The company is based at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn and produces a varied season which includes operas, ballets and musicals. Its chief conductors in the past have included Neeme Järvi and Eri Klas.
With festival performances, private projects and student works, an average of 5 to 10 new opera performances are staged every year.
Editor: S. Tambur