Editorial: Estonian, simply the best

Photo: Toomas Huik

Here and there, as people pause to chat, the topic keeps surfacing: who’s the most famous Estonian in the world? Never do these discussions birth the objective truth – universal criteria for worldwide fame simply lacking. Still, there are some among us, unquestionably planet’s best in their field.

Yesterday morning, news reached us from across the ocean: Tõnu Kaljuste, the conductor, got a Grammy for best choir performance, for Adam’s Lament by Arvo Pärt with Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, choir of Latvian Radio, and Vox Clamantis. Regarding Mr Pärt, he was last year’s most performed living classic composer, by the way.

In run-up to Sochi Olympics, a somewhat surprising media limelight has fallen on the 11 years old freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru, of Estonia, who cannot go to Sochi due to youth. At the moment, surprise-surprise, Kelly stands as Estonia’s most popular sportsman according to Facebook and YouTube. We have someone here to cheer on. Over the weekend, in France, she beat numerous grown-ups headed for Olympics. Not for the first time, either. 

On February 8^th, a day after the Olympic Flame is kindled in Sochi, Japanese eyes are on Kaido Höövelson, sumo-named Baruto, ceremoniously leaving professional sumo and the corresponding pony-tail – the event taking several hours. The man who made it to No 2 in sumo charts and won a tournament at the highest league, will be honoured by 15,000 people at the hall, with millions of Japanese glued to media. A departure like this, at career’s end, is for a chosen few.

Just some few examples of Estonians at absolute world top, in their fields. There are others, not limited to culture and sports – there are the scientists, the business people. All share a common thread, at that: the fame is mainly restricted to the field they’re ploughing. In the world of today, thanks to media, even the niche has worldwide reach; even so, as a rule, the wider awareness barrier is not crossed.

Tennis top; Oscar nominee; Golden Football Boot; the Pop Star; fastest sprinter; head of a rare global organisation... Not so many positions out there to reach each person on planet Earth. And we, Estonians, aren’t so many. The greater the reason to cherish the «global top» achievements. Enjoying Pärt played by Kaljuste is not for the masses, obviously. Those who do that, doubtless deem Estonia a special spot indeed.