Your guide to classical music online

Pärt: Symphony No. 4/Los Angeles Philharmonic Download

Victor Carr Jr

Artistic Quality:

Sound Quality:

Arvo Pärt’s Symphony No. 4 is a purely orchestral work (unusual of late for him) composed along the principles of his “tintinnabulation” method, which draws upon the harmonic and motivic elements of Gregorian chant. This, combined with the composer’s minimalist technique, creates a static, meditative atmosphere that some listeners find “transcendental”. Some of Pärt’s works, Fratres, for example, achieve this state effectively through intriguing and sometimes beguiling harmonic beauty. This new symphony is another story. The steady pulse and medieval aesthetic remain, but here they are bound to an arid harmonic language that after a time depresses rather than exalts. Not that it’s ugly or gnarly–far from it–but after a time the relentless succession of unresolved chord progressions on the strings and harp, occasionally accented by percussion (including crotales and marimba along with the usual battery), generates a pervasive sense of gloom. But this is probably by design, as the symphony is dedicated to one Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former oil magnate now imprisoned in Russia.

Of the work’s three movements, only the finale contains any real physicality, and not until the second half, so it’s quite a relief when the work reaches its conclusion. That the audience offered sustained applause at the end is largely due to Esa-Pekka Salonen’s committed conducting and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s superlative playing. It certainly helps that the occasion was the world-premiere of a symphony (bearing the subtitle “Los Angeles”) by a popular living composer. In the final analysis, the live recording reproduces a bright, acoustically dry sound. So, it boils down to whether or not you are a Pärt devotee. If so, then you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into–and despite the above, this new recording will demand your consideration.

« Back to Search Results


Recording Details:

Reference Recording: None

ARVO PÄRT - Symphony No. 4 "Los Angeles"

Search Music Reviews

Search Sponsor

  • Insider Reviews only
  • Click here for Search Tips

Visit Our Merchandise Store

Visit Store
  • Ideally Cast Met Revival of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette
    Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, NY; March 19, 2024—The Met has revived Bartlett Sher’s 1967 production of Gounod’s R&J hot on the heels of its
  • An Ozawa Story, November, 1969
    Much has justifiably been written regarding Seiji Ozawa’s extraordinary abilities and achievements as a conductor, and similarly about his generosity, graciousness, and sense of humor
  • Arvo Pärt’s Passio At St. John The Divine
    Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York, NY; January 26, 2024—When one thinks of musical settings of Christ’s Passion, one normally thinks of the