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Touching Eternity: Arvo Pärt and JS Bach

The Purcell Singers with Matthew Barley

Part of the Smith Square Hall Autumn/Winter 2025 Season

Add to my Calendar 12-09-2025 19:00 12-09-2025 21:00 36 Touching Eternity: Arvo Pärt and JS Bach Step into a world of calm and timeless beauty. In celebration of Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday, this exclusive performance brings his profound and radiant choral music into dialogue with the intimate solo Cello Suites of JS Bach. This immersive candlelit performance features musicians with deep connections to the soundworlds of Bach and Pärt. Cellist Matthew Barley’s “great tenderness and eloquence” (BBC Music Magazine) has brought him worldwide acclaim, while conductor Benjamin Kirk honed his craft in Pärt’s home country, including with the renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. He conducts the highly acclaimed Purcell Singers in Pärt’s most-loved choral music, before the concert closes with the heart-stopping beauty of Tavener’s Svyati for cello and choir. Smith Square Hall , London DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Smith Square Hall
Sinfonia Smith Square
Smith Square
City of Westminster
London
SW1P 3HA
England

Programme

Arvo Pärt – De Profundis
Arvo Pärt – Pari intervallo
Johann Sebastian Bach – Cello Suite no.5 in C minor, BWV 1011:Sarabande
Arvo Pärt – The Beatitudes
Johann Sebastian Bach – Cello Suite no.3 in C major, BWV 1009: Bourrees 1 & 2
Johann Sebastian Bach – Komm, Jesu, komm (motet), BWV 229
Arvo Pärt – The Deer’s Cry
Johann Sebastian Bach – Cello Suite no.2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Arvo Pärt – Salve Regina
Johann Sebastian Bach – Cello Suite no.1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prelude
John Tavener – Svyati

Performers

Matthew Barley – cello
Benjamin Kirk – Conductor

Purcell Singers

Programme Note

Step into a world of calm and timeless beauty.

In celebration of Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday, this exclusive performance brings his profound and radiant choral music into dialogue with the intimate solo Cello Suites of JS Bach.

This immersive candlelit performance features musicians with deep connections to the soundworlds of Bach and Pärt. Cellist Matthew Barley’s “great tenderness and eloquence” (BBC Music Magazine) has brought him worldwide acclaim, while conductor Benjamin Kirk honed his craft in Pärt’s home country, including with the renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. He conducts the highly acclaimed Purcell Singers in Pärt’s most-loved choral music, before the concert closes with the heart-stopping beauty of Tavener’s Svyati for cello and choir.

Matthew Barley - cello

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