This year’s festival theme, “Zwei Gefühle”, is inspired by Helmut Lachenmann’s work of the same name and reflects the contrasting yet resonant musical worlds of Arvo Pärt and Helmut Lachenmann, whose 90th birthdays are celebrated during the festival. Also honored are Luciano Berio and Pierre Boulez, both marking their 100th anniversaries – towering figures of musical modernism.

Arvo Pärt’s tintinnabuli technique, deeply rooted in early Western polyphony, contrasts with Helmut Lachenmann’s radical musique concrète instrumentale, which consciously breaks with music history to embrace the entire spectrum of audible sound. Both composers, in true avant-garde spirit, have created their own unique languages.

AFEKT pays tribute to Pierre Boulez with a solo recital by pianist Michael Wendeberg, one of Boulez’s close collaborators both as pianist and conductor. Luciano Berio’s legendary Sequenzas will be performed by leading Estonian contemporary musicians.

More information: https://festivalafekt.ee/en/tartu-2025/