Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium resounded with a proud moment in Estonian music history on October 23, 2025. In a sold-out concert that marked the Estonian Festival Orchestra’s North American debut, conductor Paavo Järvi led his ensemble in an all–Arvo Pärt program – a high-profile tribute to the beloved Estonian composer’s 90th birthday. Learn more about the composer, listen to the live recording and get first impressions below.

In a world filled with tanks and troops, Iceland stands out for its complete lack of a standing military. This North Atlantic nation – a founding member of NATO – has no army, navy, or air force of its own. How does a country thrive without soldiers? The answer lies in Iceland’s unique history, strategic decisions, and a culture that prizes peace. From its early independence choices to modern-day defense agreements, Iceland has charted a peaceful path that trades battalions for alliances and coast guards.

As Russia intensifies its hybrid pressure on Europe, Estonia and Latvia—two of NATO’s smallest members—find themselves once again on the front line of history. Decades after regaining independence from Soviet rule, both nations are confronting a new wave of influence from Moscow, targeting their sizable Russian-speaking populations through propaganda, cyberattacks, and political manipulation. In response, Tallinn and Riga are tightening language laws, curbing Kremlin-linked organizations, and reinforcing social unity as a matter of national survival. For Estonians and Latvians abroad, especially in North America, these developments are more than headlines—they’re reminders of why their parents fled, and why safeguarding their homelands remains a shared mission across oceans.

When most of Europe’s thrones fell to revolution, the crowns of the North quietly endured. While the monarchies of France, Germany, and Russia crumbled, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway redefined royalty itself—transforming kings from rulers into national symbols. Their Nordic neighbors took different paths: Finland’s brief monarchy faded before it began, Iceland voted its king away, and the Baltic states built republics from scratch.

On an autumn evening in October 2000, a sleek modern building at 58 Park Avenue in Manhattan buzzed with celebration. Heads of state and royalty from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden gathered alongside New York dignitaries for the inauguration of Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America.