The Scotsman – Kenneth Walton – Veljo Tormis is 75 years old and one of Estonia's most celebrated living composers. He lives several floors up in a modest apartment block near the centre of Tallinn. From the outside, its stark, impersonal architecture reeks of Stalinist utilitarianism. Tormis took up residence 40 years ago when Estonia was under Soviet control. He had little choice. "These were hard times, and these were state-funded apartments assigned especially to musicians," he explains. Read more

The Moscow Times – Antonio Lupher – Medieval church music will mix with modern minimalism on Sunday, as Moscow celebrates the 70th birthday of the Estonian avant-garde composer Arvo Part with a gala concert in the Conservatory Great Hall exploring his lengthy career. Read more

Playbill Arts – Ben Mattison – A recording of Arvo Pärt's Lamentate debuted on the Billboard classical chart this week at number three. Read more

The Baltic Times – With the unfortunate exception of Vanilla Ninja, Estonia has a formidable international reputation for music, largely thanks to one man: Arvo Part. Part is widely regarded as one of the most important and original contemporary composers in Europe, and to mark his 70th birthday a series of concerts in honor of the man and his astonishingly impressive oeuvre is being held throughout the country, including his native town of Rakvere. Read more

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Kurt Shaw – Recent record releases introduce a deeply rewarding contemporary piano concerto and the third batch of RCA Red Seal "Living Stereo" reissues that are living musical history – legendary performances presented with visceral excitement and satisfaction. ECM records' New Series has just issued an important album of music by Arvo Part, the Estonian composer who will celebrate his 70th birthday on Sept. 11. Part developed his individual language that appeals to many people by drawing on a wide range of influences starting with Gregorian chant, but what really got him into trouble with the Soviet authorities before Communism collapsed was his openly expressed Christian faith. Read more

The Cincinnati Post – Mary Ellyn Hutton – Olari Elts will be away from his country on Estonian Independence Day (today), but no Estonian is ever away entirely. Read more

The Cincinnati Post – Mary Ellyn Hutton – Arvo Pärt's Symphony No. 2 opens like a pinprick popping a balloon, the balloon being mid-century modernist music. Read more