One night only – on Tuesday, February 9, 2026 Soundstreams presents Another side of Arvo Pärt as part of their ongoing TD Encounters series. This Encounters celebrates Pärt’s 90th birthday, featuring some of his secular and folk-inspired pieces, plus works by Omar Daniel and Anna Pidgorna. Presented as a free concert at Hugh’s Room Live.
Celebrating one of most performed living classical composers in the world
Arvo Pärt is the second most performed living classical composer in the world, edged out only by John Williams. In celebration of Pärt’s 90th birthday, this Encounters event highlights both his global impact and his Estonian roots, with a piece representing his presence on the global scene, contrasted by a folk-inspired piece. These works will be paired with pieces from artists inspired by his work: Estonian-Canadian composer Omar Daniel and Ukrainian-Canadian composer Anna Pidgorna.
About the concert program
Arvo Pärt is most well-known for his deeply spiritual choral works, which are shaped by his tintinnabuli style (Latin for “little bells”), that gives his works their characteristic clarity and stillness. However, this is not the only side of his music. This Encounters concert will feature his iconic Fratres for violin and piano; and Es sang vor langen Jahren for voice, violin and viola, alongside video clips of his early film compositions. The concert will also feature the world premiere public performance of Omar Daniel’s Runo Songs, adaptations of traditional Estonian folk melodies for violin and soprano; and Anna Pidgorna’s Pärtian Meditation on an Invented Folksong.
The evening will feature Erika Raum (violin), Oskar Daniel-Raum (piano) and Xin Wang (soprano).
Following the performances, composer Omar Daniel will join the performers for a panel discussion and audience Q&A.
This Encounters event is a companion performance to Soundstreams’ February 14 mainstage concert, The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir: Arvo Pärt at 90.
About Arvo Pärt
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer whose creative output has significantly changed the way we understand the nature of music. In 1976, he created a unique musical language called tintinnabula, reaching a vast audience of various listeners and defining his work right up to today. There is no compositional school that follows Pärt, nor does he teach – nevertheless, contemporary music has been significantly influenced by his tintinnabula compositions. Read more about him here.
About the TD Encounters series
Soundstreams’ TD Encounters is a free event series that always offers something different. These events are equal parts performance, artist discussion and Q&A, and give audiences the opportunity to engage with artists and their work in an intimate and relaxed setting.
Soundstreams Founding Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney shares, “Encounters is truly a voyage of discovery, an unparalleled opportunity to engage with both the mystery and the joy of the creative process. Not only are audiences invited to discover fresh, new works inspired by a spectrum of themes, but they’re offered a rare chance to engage directly with the artists that created and performed those works in an intimate setting. Encounters is a chance to gather in-person as a community, with curiosity and a spirit of adventure, and be completely absorbed by music that reflects the beauty and complexity of our city, our country, and our world.”
About Soundstreams
Founded in 1982, Soundstreams is a global leader in the presentation of innovative, carefully curated and immersive musical experiences. It is committed to showcasing the work of living Canadian and global composers/musicians, bringing to focus contemporary conversations to its communities. Since its inception, it’s introduced audiences to works from some of the finest and most groundbreaking composers of our age, from R. Murray Schafer to Nicole Lizée.
(Photo credits: Soundstreams. Arvo Pärt.)
Event details
Presented by: Soundstreams
Type of event: classical music concert
Featured composers: Arvo Pärt, Omar Daniel & Anna Pidgorna
Performers: Erika Raum (violin), Oskar Daniel-Raum (piano) and Xin Wang (soprano)
Performed works:
- Fratres for violin and piano by Arvo Pärt
- Es sang vor langen Jahren for voice, violin and viola by Arvo Pärt
- Runo Songs by Omar Daniel
- Pärtian Meditation on an Invented Folksong by Anna Pidgorna
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2026
Start time: 7:30 PM ET (doors open at 6:45 PM). You’re invited to mingle before the performance. A cash bar will be open.
Duration: 90 minutes
Cost: Free – reservation required (please see the booking link below)
Location: Hugh’s Room Live, 296 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4M 2G7
Booking link: Reserve your free ticket here.
Contact Details: Soundstreams, 20 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1J9, Canada; info@soundstreams.ca, soundstreams.ca
Accessibility: Hugh’s Room Live is not currently fully accessible. There are steps into the venue and a small staircase from the lobby into the main hall. The staircases are wide, with railings. The washrooms are a full flight of stairs to the lower level. More info here.