Conductor

Destined to be one of the great choral events of the decade, the world-renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC), led by esteemed founder and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste, returns to Toronto for a tribute to Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday. A favourite of Toronto audiences, the EPCC has captivated listeners under Soundstreams’ auspices since 2000, with concerts that regularly sell out. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience their luminous sound in the acoustic splendor of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. The program features some of Pärt’s most celebrated works, alongside works by Philip Glass, Evelin Seppar, Luciano Berio, and others. It also includes the world premiere of a new Soundstreams commission by Estonian-Canadian composer Riho Esko Maimets — adding a special local touch to this celebration of the legendary Estonian composer.

EPSG:4326

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: Arvo Pärt at 90

Yorkminster Park Baptist Church

The internationally acclaimed Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste, celebrates the famed Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and the indelible mark he has left on choral singing and classical music over his 90 years. As a composer, Pärt has changed the course of music — both within and beyond the classical sphere. Profound, powerful, and beloved worldwide, his work transcends time and space, taking us beyond everyday existence into another realm.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

University of Michigan

Founded in 1981 by Tõnu Kaljuste, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) is now one of the most renowned chamber choirs in Europe. Even though the Estonian conductor stepped down from his leadership of the choir after 20 successful years, he still enjoys returning to the ensemble. Kaljuste and the EPCC are considered absolute authorities, particularly for the works of their famous compatriot Arvo Pärt, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year – in 2014, they even won a Grammy for their recording of Pärt's "Adam's Lament." They now return to the Elbphilharmonie with this very work, accompanied by the Hamburg Ensemble Resonanz.

Ensemble Resonanz / Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir / Tõnu Kaljuste

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

In the second of three concerts celebrating the composer's 90th birthday, some of Arvo Pärt’s best known works including Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten, L’Abbé Agathon, Fratres and Te Deum are heard alongside Estonian 20th century composer Ester Mägi’s Vesper for string orchestra.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: Adam's Lament

Barbican Centre

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Concerto Copenhagen explore new soundscapes in Arvo Pärt's music.

 

You know Arvo Pärt's music, but perhaps without knowing it. The world-renowned composer from Estonia has made a name for himself with his simple, spherical and meditative musical language, which can be heard in countless documentaries and feature films. His choral music in particular is famous throughout the world, not least in Denmark, where the choral tradition is as strong as in the Baltic countries.

Arvo Pärt: Message in Silence

Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen

Aarhus Cathedral

Concerto Copenhagen & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir rethink Arvo Pärt's music on period instruments

Experience the meditatively beautiful music of Arvo Pärt as you have never heard it before. In this extraordinary concert, Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir bring Pärt's compositions to life with the warm, organic sound of baroque instruments – revealing new depths and textures in his timeless works.

PÄRT: The sound of Silence

Lusatia Festival

At the opening concerts of the Pärt Days in Tartu and Tallinn, the Estonian representative ensembles Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Vox Clamantis ensemble and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste, will join forces to present the vocal-instrumental works of this year's jubilee Arvo Pärt from the 2000s, which bring together sacred texts from the Eastern and Western churches. Arvo Pärt has been called a bridge builder who has built aesthetic, ethical and spiritual bridges between the East and the West with his music. Arvo Pärt has said: “The walls that are built between confessions do not reach Heaven.” In this way, he has tried to stay on this path, “searching for that so ardently longed-for “magic island”, where all people – for me, all sounds – could live in love with each other. The doors there are open to everyone. But the journey towards it is difficult – to the point of despair.”

PÄRDI PÄEVAD 2025 Tallinnas: AVAKONTSERT

Estonia Concert Hall

PÄRDI DAYS 2025 in Tartu: OPENING CONCERT

St. Paul's Church Tartu

The great composer Arvo Pärt turns 90 on 11 September – reason enough to celebrate him! His imposing, rich-sounding and fabulously well-written music builds bridges between the music of the Baroque and our time. It no longer tries to go somewhere, like the music of the 19th century, but abandons itself completely to the here and now. It waits, listening out for single sounds and opens our ears to new musical and spiritual experiences.

Arvo Pärt & G. F. Händel

Halle Cathedral

A few notes are enough to recognize Arvo Pärt’s music. In his oeuvre, profundity and pure beauty merge in a unique way – moving listeners and inspiring them to contemplate the essential things in life. In 2025, the composer born in Paide, Estonia in 1935 celebrates his 90th birthday – one of the very greatest living composers. And what better way to celebrate this event than with a concert? The program includes works for choir and organ, inviting the audience to discover Pärt’s art in its full density, intensity and enchantment.

Toomoja — Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir — Kaljuste

Martin-Luther-Kirche

Led by its founder Tõnu Kaljuste, The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) is in the top rank of the world’s greatest vocal ensembles, famous as the foremost interpreters of music by their beloved countryman Arvo Pärt. Their program includes Pärt favourites like Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, Dopo la Vittoria and Kanon Pokajanen, as well as works by another great spiritualist of centuries past, Palestrina, including three selections of his Offertorium.

St. Paul’s Basilica

Mystery, wonder and sounds to refresh the spirit, as Academy of Ancient Music and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir perform timeless testaments to faith.

Conductor

Tõnu Kaljuste

Events

Upcoming events

May 8, 2027

JS Bach / Arvo Pärt: Eternal Beauty · Barbican Centre

Past events

Feb 14, 2026

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: Arvo Pärt at 90 · Soundstreams

Feb 13, 2026

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir · University Musical Society

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Fratres by Pärt

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Summa by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied by Bach

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Stabat Mater by Pärt

Concerto Copenhagen

Conductor in Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten by Pärt

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Trisagion by Pärt

Concerto Copenhagen

Conductor in The Deer’s Cry by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in Berliner Messe by Pärt

Concerto Copenhagen

Conductor in Nunc Dimittis by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in Festina lente by Pärt

Concerto Copenhagen

Conductor in Magnificat by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in The Woman with the Alabaster Box by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in Peace upon you, Jerusalem by Pärt

University Musical Society

Conductor in Vesper by Mägi

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Christ lag in Todesbanden by Bach

Barbican Centre

Conductor in L’abbé Agathon by Pärt

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Adam’s Lament by Pärt

Barbican Centre

Conductor in Te Deum by Pärt

Barbican Centre

Conductor in The Deer's Cry by Pärt

Concerto Copenhagen

Conductor in Dopo la vittoria by Pärt

Soundstreams

Conductor in Adam's Lament by Pärt

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Littlemore Tractus by Pärt

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in In the beginning by Pärt

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor in Cries of London by Berio

Soundstreams

Conductor in Piiskop ja pagan by Tormis

Soundstreams

Conductor in Iris by Seppar

Soundstreams

Conductor in Father Death Blues by Glass

Soundstreams

Conductor in Which was the Son of by Pärt

Soundstreams

Conductor in Kontakion, Ikos, Prayer After the Canon by Pärt

Soundstreams

Conductor in Missa Syllabica by Pärt

Barbican Centre

About

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