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Pushing Boundaries

Kate Molleson explores the extraordinary life and creative trajectory of Arvo Pärt in his 90th birthday year, with his son Michael. Today - the young Pärt’s avant-garde spirit.

Kate Molleson traces Pärt’s avant-garde spirit as he comes of age in Soviet era Estonia.

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, Kate and Michael discuss Pärt’s creative beginnings, from writing children’s songs to seeking out “forbidden” modernist music as a student. His avant-garde curiosity would lead him to write the first 12-tone work in Estonia, but also get him into trouble with the Composers’ Union.

Littlemore Tractus (excerpt)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor

The Deer’s Cry
VOCES8

Songs from Childhood (I Am Already Big; Mommy’s Kiss)
Artur Aadma, vocals
Hele Ann Vrager, vocals
Estonian Radio Children’s Choir
Mihkel Poll, piano

Symphony No 1 (“Polyphonic” (i. Canons)
NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic
Tonu Kaljuste, conductor

Sonatina No 1 (ii. Larghetto)
Jeroen van Veen, piano

Nekrolog
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo Järvi, conductor

Collage über BACH
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for ѿý Audio Wales and West

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Jul 2025 16:00

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Music Played

  • Arvo Pärt

    Littlemore Tractus (excerpt)

    Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
    • ECM : 4859167.
    • ECM.
    • 1.
  • Arvo Pärt

    The Deer's Cry

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • VOCES8 RECORDS : VCM129A.
    • VOCES8 RECORDS.
    • 2.
  • Arvo Pärt

    I Am Already Big

    Singer: Artur Aadma. Singer: Hele Ann Vrager. Choir: Eesti Raadio laululapsed. Director: Mihkel Poll.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Mummy's Kiss

    Singer: Artur Aadma. Singer: Hele Ann Vrager. Choir: Eesti Raadio laululapsed. Director: Mihkel Poll.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste.
    • ECM 481 6802.
    • ECM.
    • 1.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Sonatina No 1 (Larghetto)

    Performer: Jeroen van Veen.
    • Brilliant Classics : 95053.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 17.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Nekrolog, Op 5

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo Järvi.
    • ERATO : 5619932.
    • ERATO.
    • 2.
  • Arvo Pärt

    Collage on the theme B-A-C-H

    Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean‐Jacques Kantorow.
    • BIS : BIS CD-834.
    • BIS.
    • 3.

Broadcast

  • Mon 28 Jul 2025 16:00

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