Music Bridging Borders: Victory Concert Echoes Across Estonia and Russia

On May 9th, the historic Ivangorod Fortress in Leningrad Oblast will host the annual “Shores of Victory” concert, marking the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. What makes this event special is its unique geographic reach: the music and performances will carry across the Narva River, audible and visible to audiences on both the Russian and Estonian sides. Now in its fourth year, the concert begins at 5:00 PM local time. The lineup features a mix of well-known acts, including the Kuban State Ensemble “Krinitsa,” pop group “NA-NA,” the retro ensemble “Belorusskie Legendy” (formerly “Belorusskie Pesnyary”), singers Tatiana Bulanova, Soso Pavliashvili, Yuri Loza, and the “Streed Band” show orchestra. Celebrity sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev will host the evening. Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko emphasized the event’s deeper meaning, calling it a shared duty to remember the generation that defeated fascism. “Our Victory is timeless, beyond politics, and beyond borders,” he said. “It is especially meaningful that this concert is heard on the other bank of the Narva. We know there are people there who treasure Victory Day as much as we do. That’s why we’ve created a format of folk karaoke—people on both sides singing the songs we all grew up with. It comes from the heart, and it’s what people asked for.” The concert promises an evening of nostalgia and unity, with music that transcends the river dividing two nations.