Arvo Pärt Centre

The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is among the most renowned classical music composers in the world today and one of the few composers in music history to have developed his own unique compositional method, which he named tintinnabuli. Derived from the Latin word for chimes, tintinnabuli epitomises the qualities of purity and delicacy, expressing the very ideals of silence, purity, clarity and simplicity that Pärt strives for in his work. Located in Laulasmaa, the Arvo Pärt Centre combines the composer’s personal archive with a music centre dedicated to preserving and promoting his work. Designed by the acclaimed Spanish architects Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano, the striking building features a 150-seat chamber hall with enchanting forest views, a screening room, a cosy library, a classroom or project space for smaller meetings, exhibition areas, a quiet chapel and a spiral tower offering stunning views. The Arvo Pärt Centre invites visitors to focus and listen to music, and its location in a seaside pine forest away from the hustle and bustle of the city creates the ideal conditions to do this. By borrowing an audio guide, visitors have the opportunity to listen to a large part of Arvo Pärt’s oeuvre and take a guided tour of the centre. The chamber hall, with its excellent acoustics and inspiring atmosphere, regularly hosts high-level concerts, lectures and film evenings. The hall is also suitable for holding conferences and receptions. The permanent exhibition When you seek from almost nothing takes visitors on a journey through Arvo Pärt’s world of thought, as they encounter the composer’s reflections on the human condition and creation written down over the decades. Just as Arvo Pärt’s creative aesthetic is subtle and unobtrusive, so the centre named after him affords its visitors a space and time to engage with music and silence. More information about the Arvo Pärt Centre can be found on the centre’s website at arvopart.ee.