Peeter Volkonski: Music Is Still Undervalued

Propeller, the legendary Estonian band, will take the stage at the Station Narva festival this Saturday alongside international names such as Tricky and GusGus and younger artists including Sadu and EiK. Forty-six years after the group was formed, its frontman Peeter Volkonski is still talking about what remains worth rebelling for.

The interview takes place on September 1, when Volkonski’s hometown of Tartu is caught up in the excitement of the first school day. Yet wherever the musician and theatre figure goes, attention turns to him. Fellow residents greet the living legend with respect.

Even a visit to the café at the university library becomes a small Volkonski scene. When a dessert named after the Gaudeamus festival is sent to his table, he is also asked to give a warning if he starts singing Gaudeamus. The moment captures the public fascination surrounding the musician, whose aristocratic background and long career have made him a distinctive figure in Estonia’s cultural life.