The article is a continuation of a series of essays by Marina Nest’eva under the general title “Shards” and consists of three parts. The first, a memoir, is dedicated to the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who celebrated his 90th birthday this year. The essay talks primarily about the late 1950s and early 1960s, when Pärt occasionally visited Moscow, explores the composer’s circle of friends and interests during these years. In the second and third parts, the author shares her impressions of two productions: J.-F. Rameau’s “Castor and Pollux” at the Opéra Garnier in Paris and Verdi’s “Otello” at Düsseldorf Opera. In the first performance, the critic highlights the strengths of the collaboration between conductor Teodor Currentzis and director Peter Sellars; in the second, the reviewer was particularly drawn to the singer Vladislav Sulimsky, who performed the part of Iago, as well as the production’s lighting design by Stefan Bollinger.
