News

On 4 May, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover presented composer Arvo Pärt with the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco at the Arvo Pärt Centre. Prince Albert II of Monaco appointed Arvo Pärt Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit of Monaco last November.

Tema Kuninglik Kõrgus Hannoveri printsess Caroline andis pühapäeval, 4. mail Arvo Pärdi Keskuses helilooja Arvo Pärdile üle Monaco Vürstiriigi kultuuriteenete ordeni. Monaco vürst Albert II nimetas Arvo Pärdi Monaco kultuuriteenete ordeni komandörijärgu kavaleriks eelmise aasta novembris.

Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir present …Lente, an unconventional interpretation of Arvo Pärt’s music. 

On Sunday, 4 May, the ensemble Vox Clamantis will give the world premiere of Arvo Pärt’s Prayer to the Holy Trinity. The performance will take place at St Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste) in Tallinn. Composed in 1976, the piece was originally conceived as a personal musical greeting. Thanks to the archival work of the Arvo Pärt Centre, it is now being presented to the public for the first time.

This year’s Arvo Pärt Centre residency scholarships have been awarded to British composer Graham Fitkin and Macedonian poet and essayist Nikola Madzhirov. A total of 116 creative professionals from 36 countries applied for the two scholarships. The highest number of applications came from Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Within the framework of the joint project, 9 residency spaces from LOORE network will host Ukrainian artists. The two-month residencies in diverse creative spaces around Estonia offer Ukrainian artists a nourishing work environment and networking opportunities. The Arvo Pärt Centre has selected Ukrainian composer Anna Leonova for a creative residency.

An exhibition in book form recently opened at the Arvo Pärt Centre as part of the Year of the Estonian book. It is a surprising and multidimensional sensory experience, a hologram of the universe. An essay by the Estonian poet Doris Kareva.

Arvo and Nora Pärt and the staff of the Arvo Pärt Centre pay tribute to the memory of Sofia Gubaidulina (24.10.1931—13.03.2025), a beloved composer whose deeply personal and multi-faceted work has left an indelible mark on the history of music.

In 2026, Arvo Pärt’s piano piece Für Alina will mark its 50th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, the Arvo Pärt Centre is curating an exhibition and invites people to share their personal stories and experiences connected to this composition. Every memory is a valuable addition to our archive.

On 10–11 February, world-renowned conductor and pianist Dennis Russell Davies visited the Arvo Pärt Centre with his wife, pianist Maki Namekawa. The couple, visiting Estonia for the first time, came specifically to see the centre, where they also met with Arvo and Nora Pärt.

Carnegie Hall in New York, one of the world’s most renowned concert venues, announced its programme for the 2025-2026 season on 12 February, with the works of Arvo Pärt taking centre stage in honour of his 90th birthday this year. The programme has been developed in close collaboration with the Arvo Pärt Centre.

The Arvo Pärt Centre extends its heartfelt congratulations to conductor Tõnu Kaljuste on receiving the National Lifetime Achievement Award for Culture.