HDL 30-A provides sound for Relay of the Flame at Estonian Song Festival

The Estonian Song Festival, one of the largest choral events in the world, has also gained international recognition as being one of the most peaceful acts of protest to gain independence in 1991. Taking place every five years in the Tallinn Festival Grounds, the four-day event coincides with the Estonian Dance Festival, in a tradition dating back to 1869 (making this year its 150th).

Part of the ritual is the Relay of the Flame, which kicks off the celebration. The flame started its journey at the beginning of June and moved around the country, finally arriving in Tallinn for the Song Festival where it was received by the mayor of Tallinn. It then travelled to the Song Festival Grounds where it burnt for the whole event in the Festival Tower.

It was for the arrival of the Song Festival Flame that Event Center, RCF’s Estonian distributor equipped the stage with eight of the popular HDL 30-A line array (four elements on each side), underpinned by a pair of RCF SUB 8006-AS subwoofers, one under each line array hang. This provided coverage for crowds of up to 300.

A further two RCF HD 12-A Mk4 speakers on tripods provided stage monitoring for the performers, which included a choir and guest speakers (including a speech by the mayor).

According to Event Center marketing manager, Taavi Kasemägi, the tradition of the Relay of the Flame dates back to 1969 and was thus celebrating its 50th anniversary. “The journey started on June 1 in Tartu and after the celebration in Raekoja plats, Tallinn—the event for which we provided sound—it moved to Kalevi stadium, where the flame for the Dance Festival was lit; it then moved to the Song Festival Grounds the next day.”

As for the successful RCF deployment, he added, “The client’s feedback was that they were delighted with the sound. Our own project manager also said the sound had been excellent in terms of all speech and choir reinforcement. The HDL 30-A was a perfect setup for the occasion.”

The flame moved through 33 parishes (from the total of 64 and made up 4000km journey), where in each parish it spent maximum of three days.