Tallinn Complaint Choir Unveils New Lament at the Baltic Station Market

On 13 June, the Tallinn Complaint Choir performed a seven-minute choral lamentation on the rear square of Baltic Station Market in a public premiere, created through a collaboration between complainants and artist Florian Wahl. Following the public performance, the song will become a music video for the Estonian Museum of Contemporary Art's anniversary exhibition, opening on 23 July.

Voices of discontented Tallinn residents gathered on the rear square of Tallinn's Baltic Station Market on 13 June: the Complaint Choir, created in collaboration with the Estonian Museum of Contemporary Art (KUMU) and performer Florian Wahl, presented its first lamentation to the public.

The approximately seven-minute choral song was performed in Estonian and was created jointly by complainants and Florian Wahl, who also composed the music. The project previously held choir rehearsals in which participants were given freedom to transform their grievances and hardships into song form.

From Music Video to Exhibition

Following the public premiere, the song will not be filed away. The Tallinn Complaint Choir's lamentation will soon be seen as a music video at KUMU's summer anniversary exhibition "Why Shoes Pinch and Other Questions". The exhibition opens on 23 July and will be accessible around the clock in the museum's outdoor spaces until 27 September 2026.

International Project Comes to Tallinn for the Second Time

"Complaint Choir" is a participatory art project initiated by Finnish-German artist duo Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, which began in 2005. Through the project, choral songs have been created with the participation of city residents in other locations worldwide, including Birmingham, Helsinki, Melbourne, Chicago and Singapore. Since 2006, it has been free cultural work that any individuals and institutions can freely organize anywhere in the world.

In Tallinn, the "Complaint Choir" takes place for the second time; complainants first lamented in 2015 at the Tallinn Art Hall in the exhibition "DOings & kNOTs".

Among the singers of this Complaint Choir were Agnes Aus, Anita Kodanik, Ebe-Ly Puusepp, Epp Kivistik, Helika Evelyn Moll, Kadi Viik, Kadri Jürisoo, Kaia Beilmann, Karoliine Pruul, Katrin Markii, Maarja Ann Ormisson, Maari Hindsberg, Madle Saluveer, Mare Müürsepp, Mari-Liis Kupri, Marju Kurg, Marleen Nurm, Markus Kaal, Matilda Tirmaste, Mirjam Keks, Olav Kruus, Reti Meema and Triin Mihkelson. The choir was conducted by Florian Wahl.