On 4 July we were able to welcome some long-awaited guests at the Arvo Pärt Centre: Neeme, Liilia and Kristjan Järvi. We recorded memories for our archive, asking Neeme Järvi to reminisce about his collaboration with Arvo Pärt, which dates back to 1960. It was the starting point of their musical careers: Neeme Järvi had just finished his studies in Leningrad and had started as a conductor at the Estonian television and radio symphony orchestra (the predecessor to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra), while Arvo Pärt had not yet graduated from the conservatoire. We were able to start the process of exchanging photos and sow the first seeds for continuing our cooperation.
In a conversation lasting for a few hours, we were able to record memories about the premieres, recordings, and interpretation of Pärt’s compositions, the emigration of the Järvis and Pärts, and their contacts while living in exile in the West. We were able to start the process of exchanging photos and sow the first seeds for continuing our cooperation. Dear Järvis, thank you for a very informative and inspiring conversation, necessary information, and vivid memories!