This wasn’t just a birthday concert. It was a powerful tribute, beautifully performed, thoughtfully curated, and deeply moving
Walking into the Sheldonian Theatre on Tuesday 11 November, I knew little about Arvo Pärt beyond the fact that he was turning 90. The packed-out hall and palpable buzz hinted I was in for something special. Despite the Shedonian’s medieval seating, the atmosphere was one of genuine anticipation for an evening of music that proved both transcendent and deeply human.
The programme tried its best to explain Pärt’s signature tintinnabuli style. But as someone without a musical background, I’ll be honest — most of it went over my head. That didn’t matter. The music spoke for itself. This wasn’t a lecture in composition, it was a reminder that you don’t need to be an expert to be moved by music.
The highlights came thick and fast. The Merton College Girls’ Choristers brought a fresh, radiant tone to Vater Unser, a short but powerful piece that filled the space with clarity and emotion. Berliner Messe preceded it and was delivered with quiet intensity: reverent, measured, and full of that contemplative stillness Pärt is known for. The Sheldonian’s acoustics suited it perfectly, each phrase lingering just long enough to settle.
But it was Haydn’s Nelson Mass that stole the show. With the full Merton Choir, the Girls’ Choristers, the Britten Sinfonia, and four phenomenal soloists — Sophie Bevan, Lucy Gibbs, Ruairi Bowen and Gareth Brynmor John — the performance was on another level. The vocal blend was rich without being overpowering, and the energy from the ensemble never dipped. Every movement had momentum and clarity, giving the whole piece a real sense of occasion.
The concert also marked the start of Oxford’s week-long celebration of Pärt’s music. Estonia’s Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Sven Sakkov, was in attendance and has been named Patron of the Festival. It’s a fitting connection to Pärt’s home country and the cultural weight his work carries there. Festival Director Rebecca Dawson noted how support from the Estonian Embassy and the Arvo Pärt Centre had shaped the ambition and scale of the project. In the programme, the Ambassador captured the tone perfectly: “Pärt’s music reminds us that beauty often lies in simplicity, and that silence can be as meaningful as sound.”
This wasn’t just a birthday concert. It was a powerful tribute, beautifully performed, thoughtfully curated, and deeply moving. You didn’t need to know a thing about tintinnabuli to walk away feeling like you’d witnessed something remarkable.