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Total Immersion: Arvo Part

with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 28 April 2012, 11am

Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
part of the 2011-12 Season and Total Immersion series

A day of music, film and discussion celebrating the music of Arvo Pärt .

“His music fulfils a deep human need.” Steve Reich on Arvo Pärt

Arvo Pärt creates a soundworld like no other, where the avant-garde comes face-to-face with early music to produce works of radiant beauty. Influenced by plainsong and Gregorian chant, his pared-down, bell-like, deeply contemplative music has made Pärt one of the most popular of today’s composers.

Join the BBC Symphony Orchestra and guests for a day-long exploration of the Estonian composer’s life and work through music, film and discussion. Highlights include exquisite choral music in the atmospheric setting of St Giles Cripplegate and an evening concert featuring Tabula Rasa, the First and Third Symphonies and the starkly beautiful choral work Berliner Messe.

You can see a short film about Total Immersion: Arvo Pärt here

11.00am Talk, Silk Street Theatre
An introduction to the music of Arvo Pärt.
Admission by free ticket only. Limited availability but admission guaranteed with a Day Pass.

1.00pm Concert, St Giles Cripplegate
Arvo Pärt
Magnificat
Für Alina
Spiegel im Spiegel
Stabat Mater
The Deer's Cry

Musicians from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Eamonn Dougan conductor

In amongst the choral pieces are two key chamber works: The tiny piano piece Für Alina, where Pärt discovered his mature style, and Spiegel im Spiegel, known to millions through its use in numerous film scores including Gus van Sant's Gerry. Tickets £12 (unreserved seating)

3.30pm Film, Silk Street Theatre
24 Preludes for a Fugue
24 Preludes for a Fugue is the first authorized documentary about prominent composer Arvo Pärt to be released on DVD. A portrait made during three prolific years of the composer's life, the film features rehearsals, premieres, seminars, meetings and recollections. Director Dorian Supin succeeds in revealing Arvo Pärt's musical thinking. His work opens a door on the inner world of one of the most spiritually intense composers of our time. Estonia Dir. Dorian Supin, 90mins

Tickets £3 (unreserved seating)

6.00pm Concert, St. Giles, Cripplegate

Programme to include:
Arvo Pärt
Trivium
Seven Magnificat Antiphons
Beatitudes
Summa
Missa syllabica
Which was the son of…

BBC Singers

Paul Brough conductor
Iain Farrington organist

Tickets £12 (unreserved seating)

7.15pm Free Event, Barbican Freestage
The BBC SO Family Orchestra performs a new work inspired by the music of Arvo Pärt.

8.00pm Concert, Barbican Hall
Arvo Pärt
Symphony No. 1
Tabula Rasa
Silhouette
Berliner Messe
Symphony No. 3

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Tonu Kaljuste conductor
Alina Ibragimova violin
Barnabás Kelemen violin
BBC Symphony Chorus

Pärt's hit piece Tabula Rasa sits alongside two early works, which show him groping towards his own sound-world. The First Symphony explores strict polyphonic devices, while the Third harks back to medieval music. The Berliner Messe shows Pärt's mature style in its full glory, the string sound haloing the voices in an echo of Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

Tickets £24 £20 £16 £12 £8

Arvo Pärt Day Pass
Save money and guarantee entry to all events with an Arvo Pärt Total Immersion Day Pass.
£41 £38 £34 £31 £28
Day Passes are now sold out

26 and 27 April
The Centre for Russian Music at presents a symposium at Chancellors Hall, The Senate House, (M)other Russia: Revolution or Evolution, featuring performances of new Russian chamber music, talks by notable post-Soviet composers and film. Full details are here.

How to get there
- By tube
  - The nearest Underground station is Barbican, on the Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.To reach the Barbican,exit the station and cross Aldersgate Street in front of you. Walk through the road tunnel (Beech Street) before taking the first turning right into Silk Street. The Barbican is straight ahead of you. Alternatively, exit the station using the stairs to the first floor, crossing the road using the footbridge before following the signs to the Barbican. Other Underground stations nearby are Moorgate, St Paul's, Bank, Liverpool Street and Mansion House.
- By bus
  - Bus Route 153 stops outside the Barbican in Silk Street. Starting from outside Liverpool Street Station, it runs daily to the Barbican, Angel and Finsbury Park. Other services running near the Barbican are as follows: 8, 11, 23, 26, 35, 42, 43, 47, 48, 55, 56, 76,78, 100, 133, 141, 149, 172, 214, 242, 243, 271, 344 (7 days a week); 4, (Mon-Sat); 21, 25, 521 (Mon-Fri).
- By train
  - The nearest rail stations are Liverpool Street, Farringdon and Blackfriars. City Thameslink services serve Barbican, Moorgate and Cannon Street.
- By car
  - The Barbican is clearly sign-posted and has four car parks. Two are off Beech Street (westbound access only) and two are off Silk Street near the main entrance. Please allow plenty of time for your journey. All car parks have a height restriction of 6'1". If the Barbican car parks are full, alternative parking is available in Aldersgate Street.
- Disabled access
  - The Main entrance at Silk Street is ramped and lifts give access to all levels. All our venues have seating for wheelchair users - please inform us of any access requirements on booking. There are three wheelchairs for visitors' use, subject to availability; these can be pre-booked by calling the Box Office on 020 7638 8891.
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