''Sügav Rahu''. Eesti Rahvusmeeskoor. Narva Aleksandri kirik

"Sügav rahu" ("Deep Peace")
Estonian National Male Choir
Narva Aleksandri Kirik

The Eesti Rahvusmeeskoor concert programme "Sügav rahu" ("Deep Peace") brings together the music of two composers - Arvo Pärt and the choir’s long-time creative partner Giovanni Bonato.

While the musical language of Arvo Pärt is already widely familiar to audiences, Giovanni Bonato’s work is distinguished by a deep interest in the relationship between space and sound. His compositions are performed in an unconventional way, with the choir surrounding the audience and transforming the space itself into part of the musical experience.

The Estonian National Male Choir recorded Bonato’s music on the album "Singing into Space", released in October 2025 by Toccata Classics.

Arvo Pärt’s repertoire for male choir has so far consisted of only a few individual works. Therefore, with the permission of the Pärt family, new arrangements for male choir were created during the composer’s jubilee year: "The Deer’s Cry" (arranged by Kuldar Schüts), "Zwei Beter" ("Two Prayers") and "...which was the son of..." (arranged by Tauno Aints). These arrangements received their premiere in July 2025 at the Arvo Pärdi Keskus and will now be heard by the Narva audience for the first time.

The programme, bringing together works by Pärt and Bonato, was created especially with the interior and acoustics of Narva church in mind, opening unique and immersive acoustic worlds for the listener.

● Gregorian hymn "Litaniae lauretanae" ("Litany of Loreto")
● Giovanni Gabrieli - "Exaudi Deus" ("Hear Us, O God")
● Arvo Pärt - "...which was the son of..."
● Giovanni Gabrieli - "Maria virgo" ("Virgin Mary")
● Arvo Pärt - "Zwei Beter" ("Two Prayers")
● Arvo Pärt - "And one of the Pharisees..."
● AN. "In illa die" ("On That Day") + Psalm 109
● Giovanni Gabrieli - "Litaniae Beatae Mariae Virginis" ("Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary")
● Arvo Pärt - "The Deer’s Cry"
● Giovanni Bonato - "Sügav rahu" ("Deep Peace")