Pushing Boundaries
Kate Molleson explores the extraordinary life and creative trajectory of Arvo P盲rt in his 90th birthday year, with his son Michael. Today - the young P盲rt鈥檚 avant-garde spirit.
Kate Molleson traces P盲rt鈥檚 avant-garde spirit as he comes of age in Soviet era Estonia.
Composer of the Week celebrates the 90th birthday of Arvo P盲rt, one of the world鈥檚 most-performed and recognisable living composers. A composer who had the courage to defy Soviet edicts, to spend years searching for answers, to invent a personal language that pivots on past and present, on sound, silence and clarity. Throughout the week, Kate Molleson explores P盲rt鈥檚 landmark works and extraordinary story in conversation with his son Michael. And researchers from the Arvo P盲rt Centre in Laulasmaa, Estonia provide exclusive insights into P盲rt鈥檚 more personal archive.
Today, Kate and Michael discuss P盲rt鈥檚 creative beginnings, from writing children鈥檚 songs to seeking out 鈥渇orbidden鈥� modernist music as a student. His avant-garde curiosity would lead him to write the first 12-tone work in Estonia, but also get him into trouble with the Composers鈥� Union.
Littlemore Tractus (excerpt)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
T玫nu Kaljuste, conductor
The Deer鈥檚 Cry
VOCES8
Songs from Childhood (I Am Already Big; Mommy鈥檚 Kiss)
Artur Aadma, vocals
Hele Ann Vrager, vocals
Estonian Radio Children鈥檚 Choir
Mihkel Poll, piano
Symphony No 1 (鈥淧olyphonic鈥� (i. Canons)
NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic
Tonu Kaljuste, conductor
Sonatina No 1 (ii. Larghetto)
Jeroen van Veen, piano
Nekrolog
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Paavo J盲rvi, conductor
Collage 眉ber BACH
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor
Produced by Amelia Parker for 麻豆社 Audio Wales and West
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Littlemore Tractus (excerpt)
Choir: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Orchestra: Tallinna Kammerorkester. Conductor: T玫nu Kaljuste.- ECM : 4859167.
- ECM.
- 1.
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
The Deer's Cry
Ensemble: VOCES8.- VOCES8 RECORDS : VCM129A.
- VOCES8 RECORDS.
- 2.
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
I Am Already Big
Singer: Artur Aadma. Singer: Hele Ann Vrager. Choir: Eesti Raadio laululapsed. Director: Mihkel Poll. -
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Mummy's Kiss
Singer: Artur Aadma. Singer: Hele Ann Vrager. Choir: Eesti Raadio laululapsed. Director: Mihkel Poll. -
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Symphony No 1 (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: T玫nu Kaljuste.- ECM 481 6802.
- ECM.
- 1.
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Sonatina No 1 (Larghetto)
Performer: Jeroen van Veen.- Brilliant Classics : 95053.
- Brilliant Classics.
- 17.
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Nekrolog, Op 5
Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo J盲rvi.- ERATO : 5619932.
- ERATO.
- 2.
-
![]()
Arvo P盲rt
Collage on the theme B-A-C-H
Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta. Conductor: Jean鈥怞acques Kantorow.- BIS : BIS CD-834.
- BIS.
- 3.
Broadcast
- Mon 28 Jul 2025 16:00麻豆社 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.