ARVO PART: CREDO

Paavo Jarvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra here pay tribute to Arvo Part, who celebrates his 90th birthday in 2025. The Estonian composer has been part of Paavo Jarvis life since childhood: Arvo was my sisters and my fathers supercool friend. He wore a baseball cap, jeans and a denim jacket. The history of the Jarvi family is intimately linked to Parts work, since it was the now legendary concert in which Neeme Jarvi - Paavos father - conducted Parts Credo in 1968 that caused the Soviet regime to blacklist the Jarvi family and precipitate their departure from Estonia. Credo is also included in this vast programme that covers 45 years of composing. What lies behind this musics simplicity and depth? One answer possibly lies in a remark that Part made in London during a rehearsal with Paavo: I have the impression that the orchestra doesnt like this chord enough. The transformation that then occurred was incredible; the same notes, when played with love, sounded completely different.