Festive Tribute to 90-Year-Old Maestro Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt is one of the most frequently performed modern composers of our time. His 90th birthday on September 11 this year is reason enough for Geerten van de Wetering, together with Chamber Choir Kwintessens and The Dutch Don’t Dance Division, to bring a festive tribute to this popular composer in the Kloosterkerk in The Hague and the Marekerk in Leiden. This multidisciplinary collaboration of dance, singing, and organ promises a celebratory evening in honor of the birthday celebrant Pärt. 

Kwintessens and The Dutch Don’t Dance Division, well-acquainted with Pärt.

​

Chamber choir Kwintessens, under the direction of Raoul Boesten, travelled several times to Estonia to work with Arvo Pärt and recorded, among other things, a CD of his choral works. Raoul Boesten says about him: “Pärt’s music is like a compass for life. It comforts, confronts at the same time, and creates a space to be with everything that is going on inside you.”

 

For organist Geerten van de Wetering, a strong advocate of contemporary music, Arvo Pärt’s work is a recurring element in his concert programs. ‘Pärt has added a completely new, unique style to the musical landscape. Many composers today are influenced by him in some way.’

 

The The Hague-based De Dutch Don’t Dance Division is known for its unique and impressive choreographies and performances, with Pärt being a recurring source of inspiration. The same goes for Thom Stuart, the choreographer of De Dutch Don’t Dance Division. In 1986 he already danced to ‘Fratres’ in Ed Wubbe’s ‘White Streams’. 

​

In the meantime, he has already created several choreographies to his beautiful music, including 'The Deer’s Cry' during the corona period. Thom Stuart says: “Especially for this program, I have created four world premieres with the talented dancers/choreographers of De Dutch Don’t Dance Division. A great wish comes true to dance Pärt’s music live in this program.”