Arvo Pärt Days starts today

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Priit Grepp

Arvo Pärt Days, which is part of the larger Nargenfestival, will start today, September 2, and run until September 11. This year’s event will celebrate the 89th birthday of the world-famous Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Additionally, it will also commemorate the 200th anniversary of Anton Bruckner’s birth. The festival provides a unique opportunity to experience works by both composers in a single programme.

The opening concert will take place today at St John’s Church in Tallinn, featuring the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Concerto Copenhagen, the leading baroque orchestra from the Nordic countries, conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste. The programme includes Arvo Pärt’s Silouan’s Song for strings, Trisagion for strings, and Stabat Mater for mixed choir and string orchestra. Also featured will be George Frideric Handel’s Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 5 in D major for orchestra and Dixit Dominus for soloists, choir, and orchestra.

A total of 17 concerts will be held in various cities across Estonia. On September 3, Maria Listra (soprano) and the string orchestra of young musicians from Vanalinna Education College, conducted by Rasmus Puuri, will perform at Haapsalu Cathedral. The programme includes Arvo Pärt’s L’abbé Agathon, Silouan’s Song, Henry Purcell’s Dido from the opera Dido and Aeneas, John Dowland’s Flow, My Tears, and other works. This concert will also be presented in Viljandi, Tallinn, and Laulasmaa.

On September 4, Peace Upon You Jerusalem will be performed at the Alexander the Great Church in Narva by the early music ensemble Vox Clamantis, conducted by Jaan-Eik Tulva. This concert will take Arvo Pärt’s music to several locations where the composer lived, including Paide, Rakvere, and Viimsi, in addition to Narva.

The festival will culminate on September 11 with a birthday concert at St John’s Church in Tallinn. This year’s celebration, dedicated to Pärt’s 89th birthday, will feature performances by Hans Christian Aavik and Andres Kaljuste on violin, Sophia Rahman on piano, and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste.

For more information on concerts and tickets, please visit Piletikeskus.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Arvo Pärt Arvo Pärt Days Classical Music Estonia Events in Estonia Nargenfestival Tallinn Chamber Orchestra Tõnu Kaljuste