Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

2015 sees Estonia's greatest composer, Arvo Part, reach his 80th birthday and to ensure that we can all join in the celebrations Harmonia Mundi have put three of his CDs into a slip-case and are selling them for the price of one. All three compilations feature Paul Hillier's Theatre of Voices with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent as organist. In chronological order we get 'De Profundis' from 1996, 'Da Pacem' from 2006 and 'Creator Spiritus' from 2012. Part has been a prolific composer over many years and in different genres so three CDs can only offer us a selection. It would be an easy review to write if I listed favourite pieces that have not been included ("Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten" is a personal favourite that did not make the cut) and in some respects the Naxos double CD 'Portrait' to celebrate his 70th birthday remains the best place for total beginners to start. However if you have heard some Part and want to hear more this three CD box is a very good buy, even if you already own one of the CDs. There is some duplication - his setting of the Magnificat from 1989 appears on two of the discs, for example - but as a whole the range of selections is commendable taking us from 1964's "Solfeggio" on 'De Profundis' to a 2008 revision of the same piece on 'Creator Spiritus'. It has been written elsewhere that Part's discography is a sprawling muddle in which it is all too easy to get lost or badly sidetracked. However with Paul Hillier as our guide we will not go far wrong. There is some superb singing shared across these three CDs and if you have any interest in contemporary choral music Arvo Part is essential listening.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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