Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Arvo Pärt: Lente (2025)

Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir reimagine Arvo Pärt’s Music.

Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir present …Lente, an unconventional interpretation of Arvo Pärt’s music. Taking an approach based in historical performance practice, this recording explores how Baroque instruments can bring a new dimension to Pärt’s minimalist and spiritual sound world. “Arvo Pärt's music calls to be performed on Baroque instruments—so that's exactly what Concerto Copenhagen and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir have done.” - Nikolaj de Fine Licht, General Manager of Concerto Copenhagen.

A new dimension to Pärt’s music.

Pärt’s compositions, widely performed on modern instruments, are renowned for their meditative simplicity and profound spirituality. However, Concerto Copenhagen believes that the timbres and natural resonance of Baroque instruments align instinctively with Pärt’s musical language.

“What we gained in this recording—with the lower pitch, gut strings, Baroque bows, and the natural absence of vibrato—seems to resemble the singing voice, breathing together with the singers.” – Nikolaj de Fine Licht, General Manager of Concerto Copenhagen.

By embracing silence, repetition, and purity of sound, this recording finds unexpected common ground between Pärt’s aesthetic and the early music movement, to which Concerto Copenhagen is deeply connected.

…Lente making haste ever more slowly

At the heart of the album is a reimagined version of Stabat Mater, recorded in Baroque tuning and featuring a new orchestral interpretation.

“My wish was to record Stabat Mater in Baroque tuning and create a new interpretation where some movements are performed with soloists, others with the full choir and orchestra. Playing Pärt with a Baroque orchestra is an experiment, but it has led us to a sound that feels both new and deeply rooted in the music.” – Tõnu Kaljuste, Artistic Director & Chief Conductor.

Guided by Tõnu Kaljuste’s visionary approach, Concerto Copenhagen and EPCC redefine the sonic possibilities of Pärt’s compositions.

“Although we normally adhere to historical performance principles, in this case, we stepped away from them completely. The listener will have to judge whether our choice was the right one!”– Nikolaj de Fine Licht, General Manager of Concerto Copenhagen

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Concerto Copenhagen
Tönu Kaljuste, conductor

TRACKLIST

1. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Stabat Mater (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra)
2. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Festina Lente (Version for String Orchestra)
3. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Trisagion (Version for String Orchestra)
4. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Silouan's Song (Version for String Orchestra)
5. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Kyrie
6. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Gloria
7. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Erster und Zweiter Alleluiavers zum Weihnachtsfest
8. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Veni Sancte Spiritus
9. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Credo
10. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Sanctus
11. Concerto Copenhagen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tõnu Kaljuste - Pärt: Berliner Messe (Version for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra): Agnus Dei