Pärt Uusberg. Composer Portrait

To mark Pärt Uusberg’s milestone anniversary this December, the Estonian National Male Choir welcomes the composer’s closest musical companions: the Chamber Choir Head Ööd, Vend and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. The national male choir shares deep roots with the chamber choir through several shared male vocalists, while a long-standing creative partnership binds them to the orchestra.

The program balances Uusberg’s a cappella works for mixed and male choir with compositions scored for string orchestra. Highlighting the evening is the premiere of “Landscapes of Uku Masing,” dedicated to Mikk Üleoja, alongside the long-awaited second performance of the mixed-choir cycle “Landscapes of Heiti Talvik.”

For me, the distinct worlds of these two poets resonate deeply with one another, capturing the introspective atmosphere of late autumn. Alongside the Estonian poetry that remains close to my heart, the selection incorporates sacred texts. The unifying thread of the entire evening is a sense of remembrance, offering a quiet, upward gaze.