With the traditional Arvo Pärt Days starting today, the Nargenfestival celebrates Arvo Pärt's birthday. This year, the festival will reach churches and concert halls all over Estonia – concerts will take place in Tallinn, Rakvere, Laulasmaa, Haapsalu, Rapla, Kuressaare, Paide, Pärnu, Viimsi, Viljandi, Kärdla and Tartu.
The performers of Arvo Pärt Days will be Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir Collegium Musicale and vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis. For the first time in Arvo Pärt Days, one of the most renowned pianists in the Netherlands, Steinway artist Ralph van Raat, will perform. The vocal ensemble Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam, which is on Baltic tour from September 10–14, will perform at Arvo Pärt's birthday concert.
The axis of the programs is Arvo Pärt's music, but juxtapositions with composers from different eras and countries add new dimensions and lead to journey into their mental worlds. Pärt's companions this year are Gesualdo, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Hans Otte, Maurice Duruflé, Henrik Ødegaard, John Tavener, Heino Eller and Tõnu Kõrvits.
Several concerts will be broadcast by Klassikaraadio, including the opening concert of the Arvo Pärt Days tonight at 7 pm in St. John's Church in Tallinn, where Pärt’s music will be performed by Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste. The artistic director of the Arvo Pärt Days is Tõnu Kaljuste.
More info: Nargenfestival