Why Külaleib is Tastier

Kersti

Kersti

No doubt every farm child knows  that  külaleib –  neighbour’s bread – tastes better than that made at home. Not only had it been baked by a different housewife, but each baker also had her own subtle little tricks to make the loaf more appetizing. One housewife placed the shaped loaf of dough right at the bottom of the oven, another placed it on a cabbage leaf, achieving a particularly delicate savouriness with a golden undercrust.  However, the main reason was variety. The taste of bread made at home was common, everyday; the bread served to a visitor left a festive, holiday taste on the tongue.

Original Estonian article in EESTI ELU: Eerik Purje, 09 Jul 2010

Translation: Tarmo Heyduck

Photos: Lembit Nielander

 

 

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SHIMMERING ARTISTRY

kersti ala-murr jaak lutsoja.jpg

Crystals from my Homeland, a fitting name for a concert offered this past Friday, Feb. 29/08. The audience found itself battling fierce winter weather and heavy traffic to attend the performance presented by the Tartu College Cultural Program.

EESTI ELU
07 Mar 2008 09:53 Eerik Purje (translation: Lembitu Ristsoo)
Pilt: S. Meresmaa

 

kersti ala-murr jaak lutsoja.jpg

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Booking

Music for different occasions

DUO:

Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano)

Jaak Lutsoja (accordion)

 

DUO:

Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano)

Friederike Wildschütz (piano)

 

TRIO:

Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano)

Tônu Jôesaar (cello)

Jaak Lutsoja (accordion)

 

QUARTET:

Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano)

Lilian Jôesaar (english virginal)

Tônu Jôesaar (cello)

Jaak Lutsoja (accordion)

 

TRIO:

Hedda Bakker (soprano)

Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano)

Sanae Yoshida Mæland (piano)

 

Til Deg


Kersti Ala-Murr

About me

kersti

 

About myself…

I remember I dreamed of becoming a singer already at the tender age of four. When I was eight I had my first radio appearance and a year later I sang for the very first time on the Estonian national TV. It was a big event for a girl from a little town called Elva in Southern Estonia. I was seventeen when I participated in the wellknown TV singing contest called "Kaks takti ette".

I started music studies as a choir conductor at the Tartu Music School, followed by studies in the opera department at the Estonian Music Academy in Tallinn, where I received my bacalaureus artium degree in 2000. Since 1996 I have lived in Norway, where I have been studying privately with Åse Nordmo Løvberg, Kåre Ørnung and others.

I continued my studies at the School of Opera of Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, Germany, where my teacher was prof. Maria Venuti. I aslo attended masterclasses with prof. Ingrid Kremling, prof. Eva Märtson, Thomas Wiedenhofer (Germany); Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, Kayoko Tada, Dante Mazzola, Jenny Anvelt (Italy); André Orlowitz (Denmark); Ian Adam (London); Ks. Hilde Zadek (Austria), Barbara Bonney (USA) and others.

In spring 2009 I finished my Master of Art degree program with prof. Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz in Norway at the Stavanger University and I currently continue to work there on my Post Graduate Diploma studies.

I am very grateful to all foundations who have supported my studies and singing career! You will find all those names from my CV.

Here is my Curriculum Vitae

Some experiences I have had…

 

I have performed successfully in singing competitions in Estonia and abroad. Among my highlights, I have been a semifinalist at the International Singing Competition for Young Opera Singers in Rieti, Italy, in 2005 I received a prize at the H. Krumm Competition in Estonia and in 2008 I was among the winners at the Stavanger University’s Soloist Competition.

I have been singing in productions and peformances at the Estonian National Opera, the Estonian Music Academy and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe (leading roles Amahl and Lucy in G-C.Menotti operas “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and “The Telephone”, Ernestine J.Offenbach “Monsieur Choufleury”, Belinda H.Purcell “Dido and Aenesa” etc.). In 2008 I sang Vitellia from "La clemenza di Tito" by W.A.Mozart in Sandnes, Norway. Among other oratorios and orchestral works I have been singing soprano solos in G.Faure “Requiem”, B.Britten “Ceremony of Carols”, C.Saint Saëns “Oratorio de Noël”, G.B.Pergolesi “Stabat Mater”. In my repertoire one can find music pieces from many different epochs and styles, altogether in eight different languages. I have performed at recitals and other cultural events in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.

In 2006 I had my concert debut in the United States of America, followed by more concert tours to USA and Canada together with Estonian accordionist Jaak Lutsoja . I have had the pleasure to perform beside other renown artists at the ESTO 2004 (world-wide cultural festival for expatriate Estonians) Opening Gala at the Latvian National Opera and at the closing ceremony for ESTO 2009 in Münster.
I have performed in benefit concerts for Estonian orphan homes in Germany, in many different Music Festivals and also as a soloist in several first releases.

For more information please visit my CV!