Dedication to Arvo Pärt. Presentation of the anniversary compact disc “Spiegel im Spiegel”

On September 26, pianist Onutė Gražinytė and cellist Edward King return to Paliesius Manor!

The performers will present a program that is deeply personal and dear to them, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of one of the most prominent contemporary composers, Arvo Pärt. The program is built on the principle of a mirror reflection and is named after one of the pieces: “Spiegel im Spiegel” (Mirror in the Mirror).

At the edges lie two movements from French composer Olivier Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time.” This work is permeated with intense energy, spirituality, and sometimes even ecstasy, as the composer created it under unusual and rather tragic conditions—while imprisoned in a concentration camp in Görlitz (in present-day Germany). Also juxtaposed are perhaps the two most significant chamber works by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt: “Fratres” and “Spiegel im Spiegel.” The central piece is embraced by J. S. Bach’s Sonata in G major for the baroque viola da gamba and Alfred Schnittke’s Cello Sonata No. 1. Here, a striking contrast is drawn between Bach’s music, deeply rooted in faith and portraying humanity’s reach for the ideal and the divine, and Schnittke’s stark realism, which is almost thrown in the listener’s face, viewing the world as if through a shattered mirror. As the focal point at the heart of the program, we chose the ultimate contrast to music and sound itself—silence, namely John Cage’s “4’33.” We interpret this as a moment that invites us to quiet down and listen to how the music that has just faded continues to resonate within.

Although only two of Arvo Pärt’s own works are heard in the program, all the remaining music opens up his spiritual and artistic universe: from Messiaen’s radiant spirituality and Bach’s architectural symmetry to Schnittke’s radical dualities and Cage’s attempt to hear the meaning of silence. Constructed as a palindrome—a mirror within a mirror—the program seemingly comes full circle, returning to itself and allowing us, through these juxtapositions, to experience or rediscover the genius of Arvo Pärt.

Born into a family of musicians in Vilnius, Lithuanian pianist Onutė Gražinytė began her piano studies at the age of five and was soon accepted into the prestigious National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art. She later continued her studies at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover) with Prof. Roland Krüger, and at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin (Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler), where she studied with Prof. Kirill Gerstein.

Onutė performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed with ensembles such as the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, the Orchestre National de Lyon, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, and others. She is invited to perform at festivals throughout Europe, including the Moravian Autumn festival and KlavierOlymp in Bad Kissingen.

The pianist, who feels equally at home performing both classical and contemporary repertoire, is particularly interested in projects that explore the expressive possibilities of the piano. Her debut album “Lamentate,” featuring the music of Arvo Pärt performed with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, received widespread acclaim in BBC Music Magazine, Pizzicato, and Diapason. Pärt himself praised her, stating: “[She is] a pianist who, despite her young age, has already achieved remarkable musical maturity. I appreciate her musical sensitivity in performing my works.”

Onutė Gražinytė actively performs in a duo with her husband, cellist Edward King, and is highly regarded for her creative programming and profound musical insights.

New Zealand-born cellist Edward King is a cello professor at the Leopold Mozart College of Music at the University of Augsburg. He is a laureate of the XI Witold Lutosławski and Markneukirchen International Cello Competitions, and was awarded a special prize presented to him by Krzysztof Penderecki himself for his interpretation of “Divertimento” at the Penderecki International Cello Competition.

After completing his studies with James Tennant, Prof. Julius Berger, and Prof. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, Edward King embarked on a multifaceted career as a performer, educator, and curator. Known for his versatility and broad repertoire, he is drawn to projects that reinterpret the classical canon through historical, contemporary, and cross-genre perspectives. His first recording of Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres,” performed alongside Onutė Gražinytė, was praised by Gramophone Magazine: “This is one of the finest performances I have heard […]; it balances on a fine line between subtlety and strength.”

Edward King is also frequently invited to serve on juries and artistic committees. A passionate educator, he gives masterclasses and seminars around the world and supports music education initiatives in Italy, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and among the indigenous communities of New Zealand.

He is a founder of the post-genre contemporary music sextet “hear now berlin” and a member of the “O/Modernt” Chamber Orchestra. The cellist plays a modern German cello, crafted in 2017 by Robert König.

For these artists, Paliesius Manor is more than just another venue—not only have they experienced many significant and unforgettable concerts here, but they also celebrated their wedding at the manor.