Arvo Pärt receives the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur

Paris

At a ceremony in Paris on 2 Nov, minister of culture Frédéric Mitterand awarded Arvo  Pärt France’s highest honour, the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur.

Pärt was in Paris for the “Estonie tonique” festival. On the same day, Paul Hillier conducted a concert given by the Tallinn Philharmonic Chamber Choir, including Veni creator, Anthem of St John the Baptist, The Deer’s Cry, Annum per annum, Magnificat, Trivium, Morning Star, Nunc dimittis and Salve Regina.

On 4 November, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris was joined by conductor Olari Elts for a concert in the impressive surroundings of the Centquatre complex. The programme includes Ein Wallfahrtslied, Summa, the French première of Adam's Lament and Da Pacem Domine, as well as works by Thierry Escaich.