After offering heartfelt congratulations, one should exclaim to him and to everyone else: "Long live the music he has helped reach people and grow bigger!"

A conductor is a mediator. They lead musicians, shaping their vision into a tangible sound, lifting music off the sheet, setting it in motion within a space, and guiding it toward the audience with seemingly effortless gestures. What comes to life in that space through the conductor and musicians is part of music’s mystique. Not all music is capable of taking flight, and not every performance stirs the deepest emotions in its listeners. Many elements must align — the composer, the performers, and the audience.

For nearly half a century, Tõnu Kaljuste has been a devoted musical illuminator, inspiring composers, igniting passion in countless musicians, and filling listeners with a profound sense of musical grandeur.

Though an internationally recognized figure, Kaljuste has always remained, first and foremost, an Estonian man — an Estonian Man in the truest sense.

Veljo Tormis' music is one of the foundational pillars upon which Kaljuste’s sound world rests. The second is Arvo Pärt, and the third encompasses everything else.

In the 1970s, Kaljuste admitted in an interview that without Tormis’ music, his choir might never have come into being. We may never know what path his career would have taken without That Choir, but what we do know is that Kaljuste’s Choir — the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir — became the gravitational center around which everything seemed to orbit.

First, they elevated Tormis to new heights, carrying his deep-rooted musical heritage across the world. Then came the ascent into the upper echelons of global recognition with Pärt’s music, leading to a Grammy and widespread international acclaim. A vast repertoire followed — diverse and profound.

Yet, the life's work is not finished. Music lives on. Tormis, Pärt, and others continue to resonate. And Kaljuste’s ability to amplify the majesty of music remains as vital as ever — bringing joy to listeners everywhere.

Photo © Tõnu Tormis (1978)