Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt, born in Estonia in 1935, is a composer whose innovative work has revolutionized our perception of music. Moving to Vienna in 1980 and then to Berlin in 1981, Pärt began a creative partnership with ECM in 1984, leading to the release of Tabula Rasa. His evolution from Soviet avant-garde to the pioneering tintinnabuli style was marked by works like Für Alina and Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, drawing inspiration from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony.

Pärt's deeply spiritual compositions, rooted in Christianity, include major works like Passio, Te Deum, and Adam's Lament. His unique musical language and use of liturgical texts have solidified his place as a groundbreaking figure in contemporary classical music.