When Estonian Life's editor found out that I was going to Toronto last Saturday to hear the gala concert starring the new "Estonia" grand piano at Estonian House he asked if I would take my digital camera along and write a few words about this event.

I was a bit apprehensive abut my new role as a music critic since I was quite sure that the parent newspaper Eesti Elu was probably going to send a couple of real pros - namely videomeister Vaado Sarapuu and noted wordsmith Eerik Purje to cover the reporting. It turned out that Mrs. Stella Pahapill, well known Toronto area arts patron and former solo pianist of some repute herself, was asked to act as Estonian language music reviewer that evening, together with Vaado Sarapuu's video work.

For me the concert was definitely worth the price of admission and long drive from Ottawa. The audience agreed with me, given the deserved level of applause the performers all got. Afterwards I reminded myself that this was an Estonian audience - something I’m not familiar with anymore. Given Estonian temperaments, the enthusiasm shown by the mainly older audience was probably equivalent in Canadian terms to a thunderous standing cheering ovation. A grateful “thank you and well done!” to the performers and yes, the new piano sounds and looks great!

Unfortunately I was too late arriving to bid for items donated to the silent auction. The auction supporting the Toronto Estonian House Estonia grand piano fund went well. In all, some 28 varied and interesting items had been donated by various individuals and businesses.

One of the younger Ottawa area women who is presently heavily into soul food asked if I could check in at the Estonian House store to see if her new book about 101 recipes for Pirukad had arrived yet. The storekeeper told me it hadn’t got there and closed up to rush upstairs and get ready to perform. That Avo Kittask is sure one busy guy!

I met some very long-time family friends at the concert and sat with them. I had not seen Mr. and Mrs. Ludvig Raun for at least a dozen years yet they were both exactly as I remembered them. Some lucky people just don’t seem to age at all. Perhaps there is something in Toronto's water or air…

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