In early 1979, Arvo Pärt attended a performance of his cello concerto Pro et Contra in Almaty. The soloist was Ivan Monighetti with the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tolepbergen Abdrashev. The programme also included Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 1 in C major.

During rehearsals, Monighetti happened to ask Arvo Pärt if he might compose the cadenzas for the Haydn Concerto. After a few moments to consider the request, the composer jotted down some musical ideas whilst there...