A concert to celebrate
Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday

A resonant homage by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir at the Maison symphonique

January 26, 2026

Traquen’Art presents the prestigious Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir‘s first Quebec performance, under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste, on a rare North American tour for composer Arvo Pärt‘s 90th birthday. The concert will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Maison symphonique de la Place des Arts.

Founded over 40 years ago, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is Pärt’s privileged collaborator, offering a rare understanding and unmatched emotional clarity in his sacred minimalist works, blending medieval polyphony and ancient Northern Estonian chants. The ensemble boasts 16 Grammy nominations, a Gramophone Award, a Diapason d’Or, and ranks among the world’s top 10 choirs according to BBC Music Magazine (2020). Appreciated for its shimmering harmonies and spiritual depth, this choir doesn’t just fill a hall—it transforms it into an immersive, meditative sonic journey.

A major highlight of the choral season, this evening brings to Montréal one of the world’s most acclaimed ensembles for sacred and contemporary vocal music.

In 2025, for Pärt’s 90th birthday, the EPCC performed at the Philharmonie de Paris (masterful a cappella precision), the BBC Proms, the Barbican in London, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as in South Asia, Macau, São Paulo, and Argentina.

Critics praise its perfect balance: “The twenty-two voices, perfectly balanced, tuned these complex chords to perfection, right up to the final pianissimo chord, shimmering with internal contradictions.” (Washington Classical Review). In Paris, the mastery of Pärt’s works influenced by ancient chants was particularly acclaimed.

Carried by the choir’s transparency and precision, these pieces take on an especially immersive dimension in the Maison symphonique’s acoustics, ideal for the resonance play and inhabited silences that define Pärt’s style.

Presented by Traquen’Art, this Quebec premiere offers Montréal audiences a rare opportunity to hear this benchmark ensemble in a program entirely dedicated to one of the greatest living composers. The evening will appeal both to seasoned lovers of choral and sacred music and to curious listeners eager to discover a contemporary repertoire that is accessible, meditative, and profoundly moving. For many admirers of Pärt, it will be one of the must‑attend events of the 2025–2026 season.

About Tõnu Kaljuste

A leading figure on both the Estonian and international musical scenes, Tõnu Kaljuste founded, in the early 1980s, the ensemble that would become one of the world’s foremost references in sacred and contemporary vocal repertoire.

Known for the precision of his conducting, the architectural clarity of his interpretations, and his exacting approach to sound, he has, over the decades, forged a choral signature that is instantly recognizable, combining transparency, suppleness, and expressive intensity. His work with top‑level musicians has earned him sustained recognition within the profession, numerous recording awards, and regular appearances on primary stages across Europe and North America.

A sought‑after interpreter of Arvo Pärt’s music, Tõnu Kaljuste approaches this repertoire with an almost monastic rigour, without ever sacrificing human warmth or dramatic impulse. His economical gesture highlights collective listening, shared breathing, and the spatial unfolding of harmonies rather than any outward showmanship. In performance, this approach yields readings of great clarity, in which audiences feel they are entering the very heart of the score and hearing the music “from within,” as close as possible to the composer’s intention.

Program

Arvo Pärt The Deer’s Cry
Arvo Pärt Nunc dimittis
Arvo Pärt Dopo la vittoria
Arvo Pärt Kontakion, Ikos, Prayer After the Canon
Luciano Berio Cries of London
Evelin Seppar Iris
Veljo Tormis Piiskop ja pagan
Philip Glass Father Death Blues

Performers: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Conductor: Tõnu Kaljuste, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Presented by: Traquen’Art
Date and time: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 7:30 pm.
Venue: Maison symphonique, Place des Arts (Montréal)

The Estonian Philharmonic
Chamber Choir

February 15, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Maison symphonique
Don’t miss this journey that will leave you speechless.

Tickets available through the Place des Arts box office

Images: Kaupo Kikkas – Courtesy of Traquen’Art

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