Headwind Hall

Over a period of five years, filmmakers Artur Talvik and Priit Valkna followed Tõnu Kaljuste’s work on the construction of an opera hall on Naissaar, on the farmland of former inventor Bernhard Schmidt. It’s a wild idea, the island has no regular boat connection and no electricity, and only two permanent residents live there. Who will go to the performances? Against all odds, and despite the opposition of the public and the financial world, the charismatic Tõnu Kaljuste wants to create a unique cultural centre where tradition meets modernity, opera meets nature. The conductor’s idea seems to be as crazy as the headwind ship created by the inventor Schmidt, but in the summer of 2006, Kaljuste’s dream becomes a reality.

A dream that began almost 20 years ago has today become a real and integral part of the Estonian cultural landscape.

The screening is a tribute to Arvo Pärt’s long-time collaborator, maestro Tõnu Kaljuste, who celebrates his 70th birthday this year, on August 28.

(Synopsis: Estonian Film Database)

Tõnu Kaljuste 70
Headwind Hall
“Vastutuulesaal”
2007, Estonia
Director Priit Valkna

The Arvo Pärt Centre’s film evenings “Pärt & Film”, taking place from August 25th to August 27th, exhibit the surprisingly rich and versatile film language of screen works in which Arvo Pärt’s music is used.