Helitron is a mixed choir operating in Tallinn

Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...

 and originally set up to cater to employees of Tondi Elektroonika

Tondi Elektroonika

Tondi Elektroonika, formerly known as Tallinna Pooljuhttakistite Tehas , Hans Pöögelmanni nimeline Tallinna Raadiotehnika Tehas and Hans Pöögelmanni nimeline Elektrotehnika Tehas , as well as Factory number A-1381 was a factory of...

. Of the employment-related choirs established during Soviet occupation of Estonia, Helitron was one of the most famous ones, and is one of the few ones who have outlived the USSR.

A number of people who participated in the Singing Revolution

Singing Revolution

The Singing Revolution is a commonly used name for events between 1987 and 1991 that led to the restoration of the independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania...

 in musical rôles have at some point in their life been involved with Helitron, as either a singer in it, or as a conductor or arranger.

Repertory

The choir has been singing baroque

Baroque music

Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...

 and religious music

Religious music

Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...

 and is also known for its chamber music

Chamber music

Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...

 performances. Before dissolution of USSR, it also performed Soviet music

Soviet music

Soviet music is the music composed and produced in the USSR. It varied in many genres and epochs. Although the majority of it was written by Russians, it was also influenced by various national minorities in the Soviet Republic. The Soviet state supported musical institutions, but also carried out...

.

On 1 May 1975, Helitron was the first choir to perform Mõistatused (Estonian

Estonian language

Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...

 for Puzzles), an orchestral piece based on Estonian folk songs by Ester Mägi

Ester Mägi

Ester Mägi is an Estonian composer, widely regarded as the First Lady of Estonian Music.Much of her work consists of choral and chamber music, but her few symphonic pieces are also highly regarded. She trained initially under Mart Saar at the Tallinn Conservatory, then from 1951-54 at the Moscow...

. This performance was conducted by Harald Siiak.

Conductors

In 1964, Harald Siiak became the chief conductor of Helitron.

In 1998–2004, the chief conductor

Conducting

Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...

 of Helitron was Veronika Portsmuth

Veronika portsmuth

Veronika Portsmuth is an Estonian conductor and singer.- Education :*1987–1995 21. Tallinn Secondary School*1995–1998 Tallinn Music High School...

.