Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Arvo Pärt is responsible for some of the 20th century's most impressive works in the genre of “contemporary classical music”. Here, as part of the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the BIS label, we have the opportunity to catch up with some key pieces from “Collage Sur BACH” of 1964 to the hauntingly beautiful “Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten” from 1997. However the most significant work is Pärt’s groundbreaking “Tabula Rasa” of 1977. This is the composer’s “clean slate” where he looks back to the music of the Baroque period and reworks it in what has become his defining voice that he calls “tintinnabulation”. There is just over one hour of music in this collection. Some of it is choral in form and all has Pärt’s characteristically spiritual dimension expressed through seemingly simple musical ideas that are, in fact, deeply profound. Credit to Jean-Jacques Kantorow and the Tapiola Sinfonietta for doing full justice to these seminal works.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.