Annely Peebo: "I have always visited Estonia and performed here, regardless of snowstorms or epidemics"

19.12.2025

The Austrian vineyards on one side and the Estonian pine forests on the other – opera singer Annely Peebo has lived most of her life between these two homes and cultural spaces. Her work regularly brings her back to Estonia – this season to the Vanemuine stage in Tartu – and just as naturally she then returns to Austria, where she has built her professional career and created a home for her family. This constant movement has been an inevitable part of her career.

Now that Tallinn and Central Europe will be connected by Rail Baltica in five years, Peebo sees it not only as a more convenient transport solution, but also as a broader change in cultural life. Faster access to European centers could bring more artists to Estonia, facilitate collaborations, and make the small cultural country's creative life more international, he says.

Imre Kálmán's operetta "Silva" premiered at Vanemuine in Tartu at the end of November, in which Annely Peebo, a member of the prestigious Vienna Volksoper, performs in the title role, who has captivated audiences on several European stages as the young cabaret singer Silvana. Photo: Vanemuine

You've lived between two homes and two cultures for nearly three decades. How did it all start – and what still keeps you so strongly connected to Estonia?

In 1994, I went to study in Vienna — and you could say that from that moment on, a new stage in my life began. Everything happened so quickly and unexpectedly, like a small tsunami, but in the best sense of the word. My studies took me forward, and with every step I took, new opportunities began to open up, and gradually Vienna became my new home. I have built my life and family there, and it has been there for over thirty years without me noticing.
But I still have a very strong connection to Estonia. My roots, parents, brother and his family, and friends are here.
And of course music.
Thanks to music, I have been able to return to Estonia again and again, to connect with the Estonian audience, and that feeling is always heartwarming.

Do you feel like you are more European or Estonian as you constantly travel between the two countries and around the world?

Estonia, these are my roots – the language, the culture, the memories, and the people I am connected to, that is what always keeps me connected to my homeland.

But at the same time, living and working abroad gives me a sense of being European: different cultures, different worldviews and experiences help me see life more broadly. These two worlds exist in me in parallel and complement each other, and this diversity gives both my life and my work a depth and color that I greatly appreciate.

What is triggering or inspiring you most creatively right now?

I am most inspired by life itself – the people around me, the encounters, the stories I hear and see. The more time passes, the more sensitive my mind becomes to those small moments that once perhaps went unnoticed.

Music has always been a way for me to make sense of feelings and experiences, and now I feel that creativity comes primarily from a deep inner peace, but also from a sense of gratitude.

I am also very inspired by being able to move between different cultures – there are so many similarities and yet unexpected contrasts between Vienna and Estonia.

When you look back on the pivotal years of your early career – what are the moments you feel the most gratitude or pride for today?

When I think back to the early days of my career, what I feel most grateful for is gratitude.

Those were times when everything was new and a little scary, but at the same time full of wonderful energy and a willingness to learn.

I am truly grateful to the people who believed in me and gave me this opportunity. And I am proud of the moments when I dared to take risks and move forward, because those steps shaped me into who I am today.

On stage, the audience sees more of a great shape and brilliance. But who are you off stage – what is your everyday life like?

As an artist, I have many roles and different faces, but off stage I am a mother, a housewife, a partner, a cook, a gardener and just a person with my own joys and worries, who enjoys spending time with family and friends. I like to go to the gym with my girlfriends and play tennis with my sons. I have a large circle of friends with whom I never get bored and we enjoy nice events and get-togethers almost every week.
I live a 12-minute drive from the center of Vienna, among grape fields. I have a large garden with all kinds of berries and many beautiful flowers. The garden also has spacious lawns. This garden is my place to relieve stress – I enjoy being there, working there and the beauty that nature offers.
This means that my life is much more diverse than it appears on stage.

How has your attitude towards coming home changed over the years? How does it feel to return to Estonia?

Over the years, this feeling has not diminished, but rather deepened. The more I have moved around the world, the more valuable it has become to know that I have roots to return to.

What moments or places in Estonia always make your soul sing when you return here?

Little everyday things.

The smell of local food, familiar streets, or even Estonian conversation all around you – these moments give a special warm feeling. Places associated with childhood also carry memories that will never fade.

This season you are performing in Vanemuine. How much does it mean to be on stage in Estonia? Is the audience at home different than abroad?

Being on stage in Estonia is always a bit like coming home – the audience knows me, I know them… Being on stage is always made easier by the atmosphere in which we do our work. And performing in Vanemuine is special precisely because of that, because there is a very warm atmosphere here, a supportive management team, and extremely friendly colleagues and collaborators.

If you had a week of completely free time – where would you go or how would you use that time?

For me, free time is a chance to “recharge my batteries” and listen to myself – without stages, deadlines, or obligations. And of course, time with my family. Those moments when I don’t have to prove anything or rush anywhere are the most valuable.

You travel a lot for work. What makes you happy about traveling – and what makes you tired?

Every trip is a small change from the usual rhythm and it certainly refreshes and keeps the mind sharp. And meeting new cultures and people helps to see the world from different perspectives. All this enriches and gives the feeling that the world is full of possibilities.
But when you travel a lot, the constant packing and unpacking of suitcases, waiting at airports, and the constant waiting can get tiring. Even if the trip itself is exciting, at some point you start to miss the familiar.

Rail Baltica will soon quickly connect Tallinn to the European train network. How much could such a connection change the movement and work of cultural people?

Rail Baltica will certainly make travel to Europe much easier and cultural people will be able to get to festivals, projects and destinations faster. But it will also be just as easy for foreign artists to come to Estonia, and it would certainly make our cultural life much more colorful and vibrant.

Would a fast train connection to Europe change your working life or creative rhythm and bring you to Estonia more often?

I've always been to Estonia and performed here, regardless of snowstorms or epidemics, so this is no surprise to me – the audience is already used to my face! In addition, it's always good to just be on vacation in Estonia – to enjoy the domestic atmosphere, meet family and friends!

What would you say to those who feel like culture has become distant? What could bring them back to the concert hall or theater?

Culture does not have to be distant or complicated. Often, just the first step is enough – to come to a concert, theater or exhibition and let yourself be surprised. There you can laugh, empathize, think or simply take a break from everyday life. And the habit of enjoying culture should start from childhood. Especially in difficult times, it is like therapy – a moment that brings peace to the soul and helps to find the rhythm of life again. Culture is for all of us, and often an evening in the hall brings back the feeling of this life and reminds us why we are here at all and what we live for.

What has been your most memorable backstage incident or prank that you recall with humor?

There have been so many behind-the-scenes events that I could write a whole book about them! Backstage life is a bit like a sports competition – sometimes competitive and intense, but at the same time full of fun, unexpected moments and strange situations. Sometimes it feels like rehearsals are like a children's birthday party – everyone wants attention, but in the end everyone has something to laugh about and be happy about.