ETV2 dedicates theme night to 75th birthday of Tiit Kõrvits

Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports that ETV2 will dedicate its Sunday theme night to musician Tiit Kõrvits, who turned 75 on October 3.

The evening begins at 7.30 p.m. with the 2023 documentary “Rock-Hotel: How Did Your Game Go?” It recalls the band’s first performance, at a party at the Estonian Art Institute on October 20, 1978, when the group described itself as a sect of rock’n’roll fans. Rock-Hotel went on to break audience records, and generations of listeners fell in love with the song “Aita mööda saata öö” and danced to it. Exactly 43 years and five months passed between the band’s first and last parties. The film, by Harry Kõrvits, looks at how the band began, what connects its members and whether its humour, self-irony and rock’n’roll spirit have endured. It was made with Telia Inspira and ERR, and produced by Pumpkin Production.

At 8.35 p.m., ETV2 will show “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” (2002), featuring Reet Linna, Tiit Kõrvits, Toomas Kõrvits, Arne Haasma and Ike Volkov. The programme was directed by Maire Radsin.

“Tonight…” (2009) follows at 9.25 p.m. The programme is about the band Kukerpillid, whose many songs have been picked up and given new life by its musicians. The group has consequently been called a national treasure of Estonian music. Host Vahur Kersna and the studio audience count up the group’s kikermarju, somersaults and songs.

At 10.20 p.m., “Unknown 60” (1991), a programme on the history of Estonian beat music, features Tiit and Tõnis Kõrvits in conversation. It was directed by Tarmo Krimm.

The night concludes at 10.50 p.m. with “Tele Saturday: An Evening at the Hotel 2: Rock Hotel” (1988), a birthday concert filmed at Tallinn’s Linnahall. Guests came from Finland, Latvia and Estonia.