Arvo Pärt (born 11 September 1935 in Paide, Estonia) is one of the most performed living composers in the world, known for the meditative compositional language he named tintinnabuli - a style built on the interplay of a single melodic voice with the notes of a triad, developed from 1976 onward. Forced to emigrate from Soviet Estonia in 1980, he spent nearly three decades in Berlin before returning to Tallinn, where he lives today. His works - among them Spiegel im Spiegel, Fratres and Tabula Rasa - have reached far beyond the concert hall into film, meditation culture and streaming playlists worldwide.
Pärt was named a 2026 Goethe Medal laureate - an official decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany - becoming the first Estonian to receive the honour; the ceremony is scheduled for 28 August 2026 in Weimar.
Bachtrack's annual survey of classical music concerts worldwide ranked Pärt as the most performed contemporary composer of 2025, returning him to the top spot he had held in 2022.
Carnegie Hall named Pärt holder of its Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair for the 2025-2026 season, with seven dedicated concerts across the season.
ECM New Series released 'And I Heard a Voice', a new Pärt album performed by Ensemble Vox Clamantis, timed to coincide with the composer's 90th birthday.
The Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa opened a new permanent exhibition titled 'Tintinnabuli: A World on Music Paper', marking the jubilee year.
