QPAC

The Australian Chamber Orchestra is joined by the remarkable Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir for a triptych of Pärt’s most iconic works

Following their sell-out Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) tour in 2019, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir reunites with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for this immersion into the masterworks of Arvo Pärt. The Choir shares a special connection with Pärt, having collaborated with him over many years, and is synonymous with some of the greatest performances and recordings of his work.

Arvo Pärt’s music enthrals the listener. It is filled with longing, rapture and reverence. In this special, limited tour of just five performances, audiences will experience three of Pärt’s most substantial works. The program opens with Tabula Rasa, a hypnotic search for meaning that catapulted Pärt to international renown. The Berliner Messe transports audiences into a cathedral, the music a serene unfolding of sacred devotion. The evening culminates with Te Deum, a monumental choral work of meditation, stillness and grandeur. A place where time stops and you emerge changed. 

Born of the composer’s profound personal faith, but speaking far beyond it, Pärt’s music crosses genres and generations, influencing the likes of Björk, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke. His music is intensely spiritual but also human. He conjures our universal capacity for love through music that opens our hearts to the infinite.