Arvo Pärt backstage with violinists Ian Humphries (left) and Darragh Morgan, who performed with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (Photo: Ian Oliver/Letcombe)

Earlier editions of the RTÉ Living Music Festival always provided a varied selection of new music alongside the work of a featured composer or group of composers. This year, with Arvo Pärt as the featured composer, a more focused effect was achieved, with many works from him, and relatively few from other composers. I felt it was a pity that the Pärt audience didn’t get challenged much, however, in the way that the Reich audience did with the presence of Feldman’s music a few years ago. Also, the selection of...