Arvo Pärt @ 80 - two concert weekend

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Arvo Part
This weekend there will be 2 concerts featuring the music of Arvo Pärt to which you are invited.  Pärt, the most often performed living composer in the world, celebrated his 80th birthday this fall.  The concerts this weekend together celebrate the living legacy of this deeply spiritual and prolific composer.

On Saturday evening, the Grand Philharmonic Choir presents Pärt’s hypnotic setting of the the St. John Passion, Passio.  The performance takes place at St. John’s Anglican Church, Kitchener at 7:30.  At 6:45 Dr. Vuorinen will give a pre-concert talk with musical examples sung by the choir and soloists to “unpack” this highly symbolic work.

On Sunday evening the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir hosts three guest choirs, The Laurier Singers, and the Grand Philharmonic Chamber and Youth Choirs, in a program including music of Pärt and others.  Each choir will perform on its own and also together.  Massed choir music includes John Cage’s Four2, Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine and Thomas Tallis’ monumental 40-part motet Spem in Alium.  This concert takes place at First United Church, Waterloo, also at 7:30pm. Admission is $10/$5 students or seniors.

The Waterloo Region Record has run a story about the 2 concerts. 

http://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/6124619-estonia-composer-s-80th-birthday-celebrated-with-a-weekend-of-music/

We hope you can join us for one or both of this concerts.