Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From a Soviet-era apartment block in Tallinn to the world’s greatest concert halls, Arvo Pärt created a musical language that transcends borders, faiths, and generations. This documentary explores the life and legacy of one of the most performed composers of our time. Through rare archive footage, intimate family insights, and conversations with leading musicians including Paavo Järvi and Kristiina Poska, the video traces Pärt’s journey from artistic repression and exile in Germany to global acclaim. Discover the unique choir Vox Clamantis with a deep connection to the composer, the spiritual ideas that shaped his work, origins of his groundbreaking Tintinnabuli style and the timeless music that continues to move audiences around the world. A captivating portrait of an artist whose sounds invite us to listen not only to music, but to our own souls.
00:18 Vox Clamantis: Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen by Arvo Pärt
01:07 Paavo Järvi, Music Director Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich about Arvo Pärt
01:18 Arvo Pärt on the tower of Arvo Pärt Centre Laulasmaa/Estonia (Archive)
01:29 Arvo Pärt about music
02:17 Paavo Järvi about Arvo Pärt in the Soviet-era of Estonia
02:58 Kristina Korver, Researcher Arvo Pärt Centre about Arvo Pärt in the 1970s living in a prefab housing block in Tallinn
04:07 Arvo Pärt explains his legendary Tintinnabuli Style
05:20 How Arvo Pärt discovers Gregorian chants and the monk Saint Silouan of Athos
06:14 Why Arvo Pärt left Estonia in 1980
06:36 Why Manfred Eicher and his label ECM were catalysts of Pärt’s career
07:13 Arvo Pärt’s music discovered by cinema, arts and the famous German painter Gerhard Richter
07:22 Arvo Pärt about the human soul
08:34 Vox Clamantis: Nunc dimittis by Arvo Pärt
09:42 Jaan-Eik Tulve, Artistic Director Vox Clamantis about working with Arvo Pärt
09:58 Conductor Kristiina Poska characterizing the deep impact of Pärt’s Music
11:23 Arvo Pärt’s connection to nature and the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa
11:39 Michael Pärt, Cofounder and Chairman about the Arvo Pärt Centre
12:17 Arvo Pärt and his influence to his homeland Estonia
12:41 Maren Niemeyer, Director of the Goethe-Institut Tallinn about the Singing Revolution in Estonia
12:55 Arvo Pärt honored by the Goethe Medal 2026
13:04 Vox Clamantis: Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen by Arvo Pärt
Report: Susanne Lenz-Gleissner
Camera: Willie Schumann
Editors: Cem Mete and Barbara Gebler
A Coproduction of DW and Goethe-Institut
© 2026 Deutsche Welle
Watch more fascinating documentaries: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUu43Xaa5AYyL7MruoJ42WD
and more portraits of great musicans: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUGCdoVYLjdUZa_L1OU6tMD
Subscribe to DW Classical Music: youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#ArvoPärt #classicalmusic #musicdocumentary
From a Soviet-era apartment block in Tallinn to the world’s greatest concert halls, Arvo Pärt created a musical language that transcends borders, faiths, and generations. This documentary explores the life and legacy of one of the most performed composers of our time. Through rare archive footage, intimate family insights, and conversations with leading musicians including Paavo Järvi and Kristiina Poska, the video traces Pärt’s journey from artistic repression and exile in Germany to global acclaim. Discover the unique choir Vox Clamantis with a deep connection to the composer, the spiritual ideas that shaped his work, origins of his groundbreaking Tintinnabuli style and the timeless music that continues to move audiences around the world. A captivating portrait of an artist whose sounds invite us to listen not only to music, but to our own souls.
00:18 Vox Clamantis: Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen by Arvo Pärt
01:07 Paavo Järvi, Music Director Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich about Arvo Pärt
01:18 Arvo Pärt on the tower of Arvo Pärt Centre Laulasmaa/Estonia (Archive)
01:29 Arvo Pärt about music
02:17 Paavo Järvi about Arvo Pärt in the Soviet-era of Estonia
02:58 Kristina Korver, Researcher Arvo Pärt Centre about Arvo Pärt in the 1970s living in a prefab housing block in Tallinn
04:07 Arvo Pärt explains his legendary Tintinnabuli Style
05:20 How Arvo Pärt discovers Gregorian chants and the monk Saint Silouan of Athos
06:14 Why Arvo Pärt left Estonia in 1980
06:36 Why Manfred Eicher and his label ECM were catalysts of Pärt’s career
07:13 Arvo Pärt’s music discovered by cinema, arts and the famous German painter Gerhard Richter
07:22 Arvo Pärt about the human soul
08:34 Vox Clamantis: Nunc dimittis by Arvo Pärt
09:42 Jaan-Eik Tulve, Artistic Director Vox Clamantis about working with Arvo Pärt
09:58 Conductor Kristiina Poska characterizing the deep impact of Pärt’s Music
11:23 Arvo Pärt’s connection to nature and the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa
11:39 Michael Pärt, Cofounder and Chairman about the Arvo Pärt Centre
12:17 Arvo Pärt and his influence to his homeland Estonia
12:41 Maren Niemeyer, Director of the Goethe-Institut Tallinn about the Singing Revolution in Estonia
12:55 Arvo Pärt honored by the Goethe Medal 2026
13:04 Vox Clamantis: Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen by Arvo Pärt
Report: Susanne Lenz-Gleissner
Camera: Willie Schumann
Editors: Cem Mete and Barbara Gebler
A Coproduction of DW and Goethe-Institut
© 2026 Deutsche Welle
Watch more fascinating documentaries: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUu43Xaa5AYyL7MruoJ42WD
and more portraits of great musicans: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBUGCdoVYLjdUZa_L1OU6tMD
Subscribe to DW Classical Music: youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic
#ArvoPärt #classicalmusic #musicdocumentary
