News

This graphic novel Between Two Sounds, which is about Arvo Pärt, was published by the Arvo Pärt Centre and written by the artist and illustrator Joonas Sildre. It has now reached readers in the Czech language.

From 8 May, the exhibition Spiegel im Spiegel: Encounters between Estonian and German Art from Lucas Cranach to Arvo Pärt and Gerhard Richter" will be on display. It is the largest exhibition of Estonian art ever to be held in Germany. It highlights twelve encounters or dialogues throughout the centuries of shared history between Estonia and Germany. The opening dialogue is a meeting between the works of the composer Arvo Pärt and the Dresden-based artist Gerhard Richter. The exhibition includes manuscripts of Arvo Pärt's works and music diaries selected by the Arvo Pärt Centre, which are being exhibited outside Estonia for the first time.

On 4 May, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover presented composer Arvo Pärt with the Order of Cultural Merit of the Principality of Monaco at the Arvo Pärt Centre. Prince Albert II of Monaco appointed Arvo Pärt Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit of Monaco last November.

Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir present …Lente, an unconventional interpretation of Arvo Pärt’s music. 

On Sunday, 4 May, the ensemble Vox Clamantis will give the world premiere of Arvo Pärt’s Prayer to the Holy Trinity. The performance will take place at St Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste) in Tallinn. Composed in 1976, the piece was originally conceived as a personal musical greeting. Thanks to the archival work of the Arvo Pärt Centre, it is now being presented to the public for the first time.

To celebrate Arvo Pärt in the year of the composer’s 90th birthday, the 2023 album Tractus was released on 25 April, now presented in an elegant limited edition 2-LP vinyl edition, which includes all previous liner notes in a high-gradeprint-run.

This year’s Arvo Pärt Centre residency scholarships have been awarded to British composer Graham Fitkin and Macedonian poet and essayist Nikola Madzhirov. A total of 116 creative professionals from 36 countries applied for the two scholarships. The highest number of applications came from Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Within the framework of the joint project, 9 residency spaces from LOORE network will host Ukrainian artists. The two-month residencies in diverse creative spaces around Estonia offer Ukrainian artists a nourishing work environment and networking opportunities. The Arvo Pärt Centre has selected Ukrainian composer Anna Leonova for a creative residency.

An exhibition in book form recently opened at the Arvo Pärt Centre as part of the Year of the Estonian book. It is a surprising and multidimensional sensory experience, a hologram of the universe. An essay by the Estonian poet Doris Kareva.

Arvo and Nora Pärt and the staff of the Arvo Pärt Centre pay tribute to the memory of Sofia Gubaidulina (24.10.1931—13.03.2025), a beloved composer whose deeply personal and multi-faceted work has left an indelible mark on the history of music.

In 2026, Arvo Pärt’s piano piece Für Alina will mark its 50th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, the Arvo Pärt Centre is curating an exhibition and invites people to share their personal stories and experiences connected to this composition. Every memory is a valuable addition to our archive.

On 10–11 February, world-renowned conductor and pianist Dennis Russell Davies visited the Arvo Pärt Centre with his wife, pianist Maki Namekawa. The couple, visiting Estonia for the first time, came specifically to see the centre, where they also met with Arvo and Nora Pärt.