Georgijs Osokins: For Arvo

Latvian pianist Georgijs Osokins is dedicating his debut album for Deutsche Grammophon to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. "For Arvo" is a tribute to the Baltic piano culture and the timeless music of the composer on the occasion of his 90th birthday on September 11, 2025. In addition to original works for piano, the album contains Osokins' own transcriptions of central Pärt compositions such as "Fratres", "Pari intervallo" and "Fragile e conciliante", which underline his confidence in Osokins' musical integrity and his deep engagement with Pärt's work. With the program, Osokins explores the "hidden relationships between the various pieces in Pärt's piano oeuvre" and thus spans the arc from Pärt's early compositions to his characteristic Tintinnabuli style. "I wanted to capture the exact moment of compositional insight - from complex contemporary avant-garde to pure, luminous and enigmatic beauty and simplicity," explains Osokins. The works were recorded on a blue Steinway grand piano over 100 years old, whose overtone-rich sound lends the album an unmistakable atmosphere. "This album is a declaration of love to Arvo and his music," says Georgijs Osokins.