Arvo Pärt: Tractus

by Maria Listra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tonu Kaljuste, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra

Overview

With the occasional exception of John Williams, Arvo Paert is the most-performed composer of our time, and certain of his works have emerged as favorites performed even in obscure corners of the orchestral and choral worlds. This release, which made classical best-seller lists in the autumn of 2023, might be overlooked by Paert listeners, for it contains no Fratres, Spiegel im Spiegel, or Magnificat. The works on the program are all less often performed, yet this may be precisely its appeal. All the music here exemplifies Paert's creativity perfectly, and hearing traits of his music anew in less familiar pieces brings them into fresh relief, so to speak. One of these traits is the fact that Paert is often writing sacred music whether it is in a choral or instrumental guise. Among the finds here is the set of eight Greater Antiphons, instrumental despite titles taken from sacred texts (and the antiphon texts are even given in the booklet). These receive a marvelous performance from perhaps Paert's primary champions, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and conductor Tonu Korvits, with a metallic string edge that brings out the resonance effects so basic to Paert's music. Another Paert trait heard afresh here is the way his music, just as it hangs between instrumental and vocal, draws on both static and narrative elements. He introduces a solo voice only once, in the parable-like L'abbe Agathon (beautifully sung by Maria Listra with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir), but even this work does not depart from his basic meditative language. This release has all the virtues that have made people love Arvo Paert, even as it defamiliarizes them a bit, and it can be recommended to both longtime Paert fans and to newcomers. ECM's sound from the Methodist church in Tallinn, it almost goes without saying, is superb and as well matched to Paert's music as it could possibly be. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	12/08/2023
Label:	Ecm New Series
UPC:	0028948591664
Rank:	56108

Tracks

1. Littlemore Tractus for mixed choir and orchestra
2. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Wisdom
3. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Adonai
4. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Root of Jesse
5. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Key of David
6. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Morning Star
7. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O King of all People
8. Greater Antiphons I-VII for string orchestra~O Emmanuel
9. Cantique des degrés for mixed choir and orchestra
10. Sequentia for string orchestra and percussion
11. L' abbé Agathon for soprano and string orchestra
12. These Words... for string orchestra and percussion
13. Veni creator for mixed choir and orchestra
14. Vater unser for mixed choir, piano and string orchestra

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Maria Listra   Primary Artist,Soprano (Vocal)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Tonu Kaljuste   Primary Artist,Conductor
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann   Piano

Technical Credits

Sascha Kleis   Design
Tonu Korvits   Arranger
John Henry Newman   Text
Kaupo Kikkas   Photography
Anneli Ivaste   Photography
Wolfgang Sandner   Liner Notes
Arvo Paert   Composer
Manfred Eicher   Producer
Tonu Kaljuste   Arranger
Siim Vahur   Photography
Kai Kutman   Liner Notes
Jaan Tootsen   Photography
Tammo Sumera   Engineer
Birgit Pueve   Photography
Rene Jakobson   Photography
Merrit Andrejeva   Liner Note Translation