Atlanta honorary consul says Estonian culture is easy to promote

Estonian culture is easy to promote because the country has so much to offer, says Aadu Allpere, Estonia’s honorary consul in Georgia’s consular district. He and his wife, Kristi Vuht-Allpere, have spent years introducing Americans to Estonia, ERR reported.

Allpere said music is one reason their work is easier. He and Vuht-Allpere are classical music enthusiasts and attended a recent Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert led by Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska. Allpere arranged for members of the public to meet Poska, and an exhibition on Estonian music culture opened in the orchestra hall foyer.

“Music is part of our soul as Estonians. And the fact that Estonian music is quite well known around the world makes it easier for us to promote and support it,” Allpere said.

Vuht-Allpere said their mission has been to introduce people to Estonia, both in their official roles and personally. They have taken Americans to Estonia, including to the Song Festival, which she said had been an incredible experience for them. The couple calls people they know “Estonia’s friends” and, she joked, have been “brainwashing” them for years.

The couple said they sometimes feel Atlanta is overlooked when Estonian choirs and conductors perform in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. They regularly talk about Arvo Pärt’s music and hope to bring more performances to Atlanta. Vuht-Allpere said Poska’s visit was a significant benefit to them.

Allpere was born in Tallinn in 1940 and moved to the United States at the age of nine. After studying business administration and commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, he spent 30 years in various roles at Coca-Cola, including as president of the company’s operations in Austria and five Eastern European countries. He now leads a health centre specialising in foot care. He and Vuht-Allpere moved back to Atlanta in 1993, and he became honorary consul in 2011.

Allpere described Atlanta as an interesting city and said Georgia’s government offers support to businesses looking to relocate to the United States. He said he had not managed to attract Estonian companies to the state, but remained hopeful. Vuht-Allpere said life in Atlanta was pleasant, though it was not Europe, and added that they missed European food, especially Estonian food.