News

In the course of our archival work, we have come to the groundbreaking year of 1968, when Arvo Pärt composed “Credo” for piano, mixed choir and large symphony orchestra. In terms of musical material, it was a work of the 1960s, combining elements of dodecaphony, sonorism, collage and aleatoricism. This is how musicologist Merike Vaitmaa

Tomorrow, November 18, sees the opening of Arvo Pärt...and a Littlemore in Oxford, the largest festival dedicated to Pärt's work in the UK to date. Taking place across the city until November 25, the festival will feature British premieres of several of Pärt's works performed by acclaimed interpreters.

On the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu honoured diplomats and partners from Estonia and beyond with the Crosses of Merit for their notable contribution to the Estonian foreign service, foreign policy objectives and Estonian statehood. This year, alongside politicians and diplomats, the highest recognition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also awarded to the composer Arvo Pärt.

Today, on October 31, the 14th issue of the yearbook Res Musica, which is dedicated to Arvo Pärt’s works, is presented. Res Musica is a musicological yearbook published by the Estonian Musicological Society and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The presentation will take place at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre on a

Today the music world celebrates the birthday of a beloved Ukrainian composer Valentyn Sylvestrov, who is often named among the most important composers of our time. His forthright and emotional music, which expands the boundaries of time, silence and style, has found its way to the hearts of listeners across the world. It invites us to experience and contemplate the aesthetics of beauty and simplicity in an uncompromising way, inherent to Sylvestrov.

On 2 October, the creative events series the Järvi Sessions will start at the Arvo Pärt Centre, during which the internationally recognised conductors Neeme and Kristjan Järvi will share their experiences in the field of conducting, creating and management.

It is now possible to buy an annual pass for the Arvo Pärt Centre. With an annual pass, you can make unlimited visits to the Arvo Pärt Centre during one year. The pass also grants entry to any events at the centre that can be accessed with a regular ticket (e.g. lectures and talks).

The composer Arvo Pärt was awarded the Officer grade of the Order of the Oak Crown of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Ordre de la Couronne de chêne) in recognition of his outstanding merits as a composer and major figure of European culture. The high award was presented at the Arvo Pärt Centre by Ronald Dofing, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and was accepted on behalf of his father by Arvo Pärt’s son, Michael Pärt.

From 18 to 25 November 2022, Oxford will be hosting the festival “Arvo Pärt...and a Littlemore” as a celebration of Arvo Pärt’s music. The UK’s largest ever festival dedicated to Pärt includes several UK premieres, among the artists appearing in Oxford are outstanding performers of Pärt's music, including the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet and O/Modernt with violinist Hugo Ticciati.

The Arvo Pärt Days, celebrating Arvo Pärt’s birthday in September with 18 concerts across Estonia, will also come to the Arvo Pärt Centre.

From 24 to 29 July, 2022 the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, hosted the congress of the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) that had been postponed twice since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sounds Beyond: Arvo Pärt and the 1970s Soviet Underground (University of Chicago Press, 2021), the new book by prolific Pärt researcher Kevin C. Karnes is now available in the Arvo Pärt Centre library. In his new book, Karnes explores the sources of Pärt’s innovative soundscapes and the unexpected dialogue of his early tintinnabuli works with the underground music scene of the 1970s Soviet Union.