Arvo Pärt: 3 world premières

MITO SettembreMusica

When Enzo Restagno invited Arvo Pärt to contribute to the MITO Festival celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the unification of Italy, Pärt suggested a combined performance of three closely related festive works for choir and orchestra: Beatus Petronius, Statuit ei Dominus and Salve Regina. He retained the well-defined structural proportions of Beatus Petronius and Statuit ei Dominus in the orchestral version, dividing both choir and orchestra each into two sections. The addition of a string orchestra on one side and a wind section on the other clearly emphasises the antiphonal character of both pieces.

The new version of Salve Regina for choir and orchestra moves the original organ part to the string orchestra. The only additional instrument is the celesta, which brings a bell-like tone.

All three new orchestral versions will be given their world première on 9 and 10 Sept at the MITO SettembreMusica Festival (in Turin and Milan respectively). The Torino Vocalensemble and the Orchestra Sinfonica Nacionale della RAI are conducted by Tito Ceccherini.

On 11 Sept the same three works are on the programme of the Nargen Festival in Tallinn, as well as Pärt’s Adam’s Lament. Tõnu Kaljuste conducts the Latvian Radio Choir, Vox Clamantis and the Sinfonietta Riga.