Arvo Pärt: Odes of Repentance

CD HotList Review

Arvo Pärt: Odes of Repentance

This recording was made in a space that frames Cappella Romana’s voices perfectly for this music…

Cappella Romana’s usual focus on medieval (and earlier) music has been a good preparation for performing the works of this beloved contemporary composer; Pärt’s spare, sometimes almost severe style draws explicitly on elements of medieval sacred music, and on the Orthodox rite in particular. This recording was made in a space that frames Cappella Romana’s voices perfectly for this music: the acoustic is open and spacious but oddly dry at the same time.

–Rick Anderson