ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ At Last
Kate Molleson explores the extraordinary life and creative trajectory of Arvo Pärt in his 90th birthday year, with his son Michael. Today, Pärt and his music return home.
Kate Molleson asks Michael Pärt about his father’s return to Estonia and his growing legacy.
Composer of the Week celebrates the 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt, one of the world’s most-performed and recognisable living composers. A composer who had the courage to defy Soviet edicts, to spend years searching for answers, to invent a personal language that pivots on past and present, on sound, silence and clarity. Throughout the week, Kate Molleson explores Pärt’s landmark works and extraordinary story in conversation with his son Michael. And researchers from the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa, Estonia provide exclusive insights into Pärt’s more personal archive.
Today, we bring the biography full circle. After 30 years in exile, Pärt reconnects with his homeland, and finds a forest haven for his musical legacy – the Arvo Pärt Centre. Kate and Michael discuss the impact of Pärt’s homecoming, archivist Karin Rõngelep tells us about his music’s impact on listeners, and we hear some of Pärt’s more recent music.
Estonian Lullaby
Women of Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor
Vater Unser
Raschèr Saxophone Quartet
My Heart’s in the Highlands
David James, countertenor
Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, organ
Orient and Occident
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor
Which Was the Son Of…
Polyphony
Stephen Layton, conductor
Littlemore Tractus
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor
And I Heard a Voice
Ars Nova Copenhagen
Paul Hillier, conductor
Produced by Amelia Parker for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio Wales and West
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
Estonian Lullaby
Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.- ECM : 4764825.
- ECM.
- 7.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
Silouan's Song
Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Renaud Capuçon.- ERATO : 9029502947.
- ERATO.
- 5.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
My heart's in the Highlands
Singer: David James. Performer: Christopher Bowers-Broadbent.- HYPERION : CDA 673-75.
- HYPERION.
- 7.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
Orient and Occident
Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.- ECM RECORDS : 472-080 2.
- ECM RECORDS.
- 2.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
Which was the son of...
Choir: Polyphony. Conductor: Stephen Layton.- HYPERION : CDA 673-75.
- HYPERION.
- 3.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
Littlemore Tractus
Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.- ECM : 4859167.
- ECM.
- 1.
-
![]()
Arvo Pärt
And I Heard a Voice...
Choir: Ars Nova Copenhagen. Conductor: Paul Hillier.- NAXOS : 8.574281.
- NAXOS.
- 14.
Broadcast
- Fri 1 Aug 2025 16:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.