Kaljuste says simple notes can carry profound meaning

Arvo Pärt Days will feature 17 concerts in churches and concert halls across Estonia, with conductor Tõnu Kaljuste leading performances of music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Arvo Pärt, ERR reported.

The festival presents eight varied programmes and seeks a balance between enduring values and fresh perspectives, offering new instrumental colours, interpretations and listening experiences.

At the opening concert, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will perform with the renowned British baroque orchestra Academy of Ancient Music.

“Both composers work with great precision and a love of algebra. The systems they have created in their compositions are often mathematical, but they move away from that rigid system so that a certain humanity can enter the work,” Kaljuste said.

“They are not theoreticians to the very end. Perhaps the most important thing is that few can create profound meaning from simple notes, because simple motifs often remain hollow. Both composers, however, have a deeper background.”

Academy of Ancient Music chief executive John McMunn said the orchestra was founded 50 years ago to record 18th-century music. It rarely works with living composers and has never previously performed Pärt’s music.

“Today we are making our debut. The programme is very exciting, as these two composers enter into dialogue over the course of the evening,” McMunn said.