Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Will Reunite With Australian Chamber Orchestra

The Grammy-Award winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will reunite with the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) for the first time in 20 years to perform an ethereal and otherworldly national tour featuring the music of JS Bach and Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

Directed by ACO Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, the concerts will feature Bach's sublime Lutheran motets interleaved with Pärt's mystical explorations of the Orthodox faith, before reaching the climax of the program: Pärt's magnificent Berliner Messe.

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir are regarded as the foremost interpreters of Pärt's contemplative and profoundly spiritual choral music, and share an intrinsic connection with the composer. They have given numerous world premieres of Pärt's music and recorded over 10 albums featuring his compositions, including the Grammy-Award winning albums Da Pacem (2007) and Adam's Lament (2014).

"The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir have worked in close proximity with Arvo Pärt since the very beginnings of his career, so bring first-hand insight and perception when it comes to performing his music," said Tognetti.

"Arvo Pärt's music forms an incredibly important part of the musical psyche of the last 50 years. His style is almost an island unto itself and provides an antidote, if you like, to 20th-century modernism. Pärt's music also sits in perfect resonance with the music of JS Bach, hence why we've paired the two composers together in this program."

Arvo Pärt is one of today's most distinctive and revered composers, and since 2010 has been the most performed living composer in the world. His music extends beyond the borders of 20th and 21st century 'classical' music, with musicians as diverse as Björk, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and PJ Harvey crediting him as being a major influence on their artistic output.

PROGRAM

ARVO PÄRT Da pacem Domine
BACH Komm, Jesu, komm
ARVO PÄRT Summa
BACH Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
ARVO PÄRT Toccata from Collage on B-A-C-H
BACH Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
BACH Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
GALINA GRIGORJEVA In Paradisum
SCULTHORPE Djilile
ARVO PÄRT Berliner Messe

ARTISTS

Richard Tognetti Director
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Australian Chamber Orchestra

PERFORMANCE DATES

SYDNEY
City Recital Hall
Sat 2 Feb, 7pm
Tue 5 Feb, 8pm
Wed 6 Feb, 7pm

Sydney Opera House
Concert Hall
Sun 3 Feb, 2pm

CANBERRA
Llewellyn Hall
Sat 9 Feb, 8pm

MELBOURNE
Arts Centre Melbourne
Hamer Hall
Sun 10 Feb, 2.30pm
Mon 11 Feb, 7.30pm

ADELAIDE
Adelaide Town Hall
Tue 12 Feb, 7.30pm

PERTH
Perth Concert Hall
Wed 13 Feb, 7.30pm