Kreek en Tormis by Kreek, Tormis, st 20 mar 2024, Od (2024/2024), Dirigent Tõnu Kaljuste, Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

It was a historic, liberating moment when, after two years of coronavirus lockdowns, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste filled the Muziekgebouw with their crystal-clear, almost otherworldly tonal beauty at the Pärt Festival. Rarely has Pärt’s music sounded so impressive and has it been such necessary nourishment for the heart and soul. A real treat from the rich Baltic choral world. This time, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performs two of Pärt’s great Estonian predecessors: Cyrillus Kreek and Veljo Tormis. Scenes from nature are on the programme, rural life, peasant life, but also contemplation and higher powers, as is common in songs for religious festivals and the seasons. These two composers are proof of the richness of the Estonian choral tradition.