Arvo Pärt Days includes the Estonian première of the instrumental work Greater Antiphons

Arvo Pärt Days,  from 2 September until 11 September, will feature the composer’s most recent works as well as some older pieces. The opening concert will include the Estonian première of the composer’s instrumental work Greater Antiphons, in addition to his works from the 1960s. The world debut of Greater Antiphons took place on 28 May in Los Angeles, where it was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. The European première of this composition took place on 14 July, at the Malta International Arts Festival.

The birthday concert concluding the Arvo Pärt Days on 11 September marks another significant anniversary – this year, the tintinnabuli style is 40 years old. In February 1976, the composer first used this composition technique to write the piano piece Für Alina; and in October 1976, the early music ensemble Hortus Musicus performed for the first time seven pieces with a joint cycle titled Tintinnabuli . Since this time, the tintinnabuli style with its inexhaustible possibilities has been the basis of Pärt’s work. Arvo Pärt’s birthday concert will feature performances of Cantus In Memory of Benjamin Britten, Magnificat, Fratres, and Te Deum by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra.

Organised by Nargenfestival, the concerts in Tallinn, Tartu, Paide and Rakvere will feature the best musical ensembles in Estonia: the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Vox Clamantis choral group, YXUS Ensemble, the Estonian National Opera Boys’ Choir and the Voces Musicales chamber choir. In addition to Estonian soloists, there will also be a performance by the English organist Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, who has previously been involved with the premières and first-time recordings of Pärt’s works.

This year, it will also be possible to experience the acoustics in the Church of the Redeemer, Nõmme; the Church of the Holy Ghost, Tallinn, and St. Paul’s Church, Tartu, in addition to the traditional concert venues of Nargenfestival, such as St. John’s Church and St. Nicholas’ Church in Tallinn, Trinity Church in Rakvere, and Paide Holy Cross Church.

You can find the programme of Arvo Pärt Days on Nargenfestival’s website.