Look no further for an "Estonian Nokia," says Neeme Järvi - Estonia already has a product that could be synonymous with the country itself. But, leveling harsh criticism at the government, the venerable conductor said the state must do more to support culture.
"Where is our Nokia?" said Järvi on the television program Kahekõne, referring to the elusiveness of an export internationally identified with Estonia. "Our Nokia is our music [...] We have our own Nokia, but let's put our priorities in order."
Järvi mentioned Pärt, Eino Tamberg and others whose work should be put to better use.
Järvi said it is regrettable that Estonia has no professional mixed choir and that the ranks of the famous male choir have shrunk to half of its onetime number.
In the Soviet era, said Järvi, "culture received much more attention than today. Of course culture was subordinated to politics, but then again, is it not the same way today?"
He also said that Estonia needs a genuine opera theatre. "The Estonia Theatre is not capable of being a venue for ballet and opera - it lacks the acoustics."
Ministers change too often, said Järvi. He claimed that obvious things have to be spelled out to them. He said he had never met Prime Minister Andrus Ansip in person and had only run into Minister of Culture Laine Jänes on one occasion this year.