The Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) and the RTÉ Living Music Festival have both, independently, chosen to focus on Arvo Pärt for their key concerts over the next fortnight, when the composer will make his first visit to Ireland.
The LCMS has commissioned a choral piece, The Deer's Cry, which will be sung, along with other Pärt works, by State Choir Latvija with Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin), Michael McHale (piano), and Maris Sirmais, at the concerts in St Peter's Church of Ireland in Drogheda and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dundalk.
The RTÉ Living Music festival, programmed by artistic director James MacMillan, is a three-day tribute to Pärt, with more than 20 of his works. On Friday, Pärt's fellow Estonian Tõnu Kaljuste conducts the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, with Joanna MacGregor (piano), and the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir performing Pärt's Lamentate, Berliner Messe and Credo.
Two events will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday - the first, Polyphony, involves Stephen Layton conducting performances of Poulenc and Pärt. Later, Sarah Tenant-Flowers conducts the Hilliard Ensemble and the National Chamber Choir, with Christopher Bowers-Broadbent (organ), in Pärt's Passio.
On Sunday at the National Gallery of Ireland, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet with Joanna McGregor (piano) play Pärt's Fratres and Psalom, among other works, and on the same day in the Samuel Beckett Theatre, the Crash Ensemble plays works by Padding, Adriaansz and Pärt, Later on Sunday at the NCH, David Brophy conducts the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, with Ian Humphries and Darragh Morgan (violins). The programme includes Pärt's Collage uber B-A-C-H, Passacaglia, Tabula Rasa, and Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten.
Wed, Feb 13
St Peter's Church of Ireland, Drogheda, 8pm (sold out). €25. 0818-205205
Thurs, Feb 14
St Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk, Co Louth, 8pm. €25. 0818-205205
Fri and Sun, Feb 15 and 17
RTÉ Living Music Festival, National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8pm (Fri sold out, Sun €22). 01-4170000
Sat, Feb 16
RTÉ Living Music Festival, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, 1pm and 8pm. €17.50/€12 and €22/€17.60. 0818-205205
Sun, Feb 17
RTÉ Living Music Festival, Shaw Room, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, 2pm. €15/€10
RTÉ Living Music Festival, Samuel Beckett Theatre, TCD, Dublin, 5pm. €17.50/€14
For further details, see www.nch.ieand www.rte.ie/performinggroups/livingmusic/