Bridging Time Through Music: Arvo Pärt 90. Carl Orff

About the Event

Experience the enchanting melodies of classical music by Carl Orff and Arvo Pärt at Tallinn's esteemed and globally acclaimed Estonia Concert Hall in this eagerly awaited concert.

Celebrating Arvo Pärt's 90th birthday, the concert features the compositions of two legendary musical figures, Carl Orff and Arvo Pärt. Both have significantly impacted the music world, each representing a distinct voice of their time. With a quest for simplicity and clarity, Orff drew from ancient texts, folklore, and medieval music, while Pärt was inspired by Gregorian chants and early polyphony. Their creations echo the past, yet wield a striking influence on modern music.

Among Pärt’s pivotal works is 'Credo,' notable for its dramatic collage style. It encapsulates his early period and is crucial for understanding his stylistic evolution. Incorporating dodecaphony, sonorism, collage, and aleatory techniques, it's the first piece to revolve around a sacred text, forming its entire musical structure.

The text of 'Credo' itself is a collage, merging a phrase from the Christian Statement of Faith, 'I Believe in Jesus Christ,' with a passage from Matthew’s Gospel, embodying Christianity: combating evil with goodness. Musically, it harmonizes discordant worlds.

Symphony No. 3, marks a turning point in Pärt’s compositions and foreshadows his new artistic direction. Its uninterrupted three movements highlight his exploration of monody and early polyphony, reminiscent of 14th and 15th‐century choral music without direct quotes. The polyphonic evolution doesn't dwell in historical echoes but translates themes into a modern idiom.

In Symphony No. 3, Pärt visualizes independent voices constructing a metaphorical city. As he explains: “Small, increasingly numerous centres that spread until they touch and form unity. This mirrors harmonic progressions and polyphonic complexity, bridging centuries within myself.' (Enzo Restagno, Arvo Pärt in Conversation, 2012).

This symphony is dedicated to Neeme Järvi, who conducted its premiere with the Estonian Television and Radio Symphony Orchestra at Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn on 21 September 1972.

The concert concludes with Carl Orff's triumphant scenic cantata “Carmina Burana,” exalting life and sunlight. Composed in 1936 for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, it draws from 24 poems from the medieval “Carmina Burana” collection, discovered at the Benediktbeuern Abbey in the Bavarian Alps. Allegedly penned by clergy and students, the poems explore love, nature, and wine. Orff’s compelling music marries medieval and modern, celebrating human vitality.