Pärdi Days open with chamber choir and Academy of Ancient Music

Nargen Festival’s opening concert of the Pärdi Days in Tallinn featured the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Academy of Ancient Music, a British orchestra based in Cambridge, ERR reported.

The orchestra has performed for more than 50 years on instruments associated with the music of the 18th and 19th centuries. It has also commissioned new works from contemporary composers and performs and records modern repertoire.

Under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste, the programme combined the music of Johann Sebastian Bach with works by contemporary composer Arvo Pärt.

The traditional Pärdi Days festival runs from September 2 to 11 and marks Pärt’s 91st birthday.

The festival includes 17 concerts with eight different programmes in churches and concert halls across Estonia, including Tallinn, Narva, Tartu, Rakvere, Pärnu, Viljandi, Laulasmaa, Viimsi, Haapsalu, Paide, Kuressaare, Kärdla and Rapla.