Our Cafe Bar and Box Office will be closed to the public from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April (inclusive). We look forward to seeing you again soon.

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large group of instrumentalists stood together on a stage holding their instruments and wearing red and black

Bristol Ensemble

Arvo Pärt Meditation

This event has passed.

Please note this event has been rescheduled from November 2020, February and April 2021. All tickets will remain valid.

Arvo Pärt Tabula Rasa

Arvo Pärt Spiegel im Spiegel

Arvo Pärt Fratres

“…Music must exist of itself … two, three notes … the essence must be there, independent of the instruments.” Arvo Pärt

The distinctive simplicity and hypnotic, mesmerising quality of the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is deeply compelling and meditative. Performed in the resonant, crystal clear acoustic of St George’s Bristol, these one-hour concerts offer a wonderful opportunity to retreat to a state of tranquillity, as the musicians of the Bristol Ensemble assemble on stage once again to make music for you.

In Tabula Rasa (Clean Slate), the 1977 work that brought Pärt’s music in the ‘holy minimalist’ style of tintinnabulation to a worldwide audience, melodies slowly emerge and evolve, built on progressions that are almost mathematical yet exquisitely beautiful. The 30 minute work is scored for violin, string orchestra and prepared piano.

The programme includes two instrumental works from the same revolutionary period: the tranquil Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror) written in 1978 and scored for violin and piano, and the 1977 minimalist masterpiece Fratres (Brothers), a set of variations on a theme of rich harmonic chord progressions, separated by a percussion motif.

The performance will be accompanied by a visual show of striking celestial images.

Pre-event Food & Drink

Enjoy delicious drinks and light bites from our Café Bar ahead of the event.

Available to pre-order when booking your tickets, you can choose from a selection of house drinks on arrival, accompanied by a board of bread, olives and dips (all Vegetarian). Just select which option – for one or two people – you would like, before checkout.

Your pre-ordered food and drink will be available to collect from the Café Bar from 60 minutes before the event. It’s the perfect way to begin your event experience at St George’s!