Latvian piano star Vestards Šimkus (known as Vestard Shimkus internationally) has released his latest solo compact disc, entitled Interview with Beethoven.

The CD contains three works: Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano sonatas number 2 and 29 (the extremely difficult “Hammerklavier”), as well as Šimkus’ own “EU Variations,” which are variations on the theme from “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Interview with Beethoven was released in May by German music label Ars Produktion (ARS 38 099). The works were recorded at the Steinway-Haus in Dusseldorf.

Šimkus, who began playing piano at the age of 5, has become internationally renowned for his skill and interpretations. He was honored with the Latvian Great Music Award in 2002 and 2009. Šimkus also received accolades for his performance of Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks’ “The Seasons” solo piano cycle, which was released on CD by the German music label Wergo in 2010.

As shown on this release, Šimkus is also an active composer. His “Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra” received its world premiere in July 2008.

Tracks on the CD include:

1. Vestards Šimkus, EU Variations on a Theme of Beethoven
2. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 2 Nr. 3, Allegro con brio
3. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 2 Nr. 3, Adagio
4. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 2 Nr. 3, Scherzo: Allegro
5. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 2 Nr. 3, Allegro assai
6. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 106 Hammerklavier: Allegro
7. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 106 Hammerklavier: Scherzo: Assai vivace
8. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 106 Hammerklavier: Adagio sostenuto
9. Ludwig van Beethoven: Klaviersonate op. 106 Hammerklavier: Introduzione: Largo – Fuga: Allegro risoluto

The CD booklet features essays on Beethoven and his works in both German and in English, as well as a brief biography of Šimkus and a brief essay by him. The disc is a Super Audio CD (SACD), which means it can be played on DVD players utilizing 5.1 channel output, if available.

More information about Šimkus is available on his website, www.vestard-shimkus.com.

The Latvian Youth Choir Kamēr…, led by artistic director Māris Sirmais, has released their latest compact disc, O Salutaris, containing works by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.

The CD collects a number of recordings, some previously released, some new.

Ešenvalds, who in recent years has become one of the best known and popular Latvian composers, in October became a fellow commoner in creative arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, in England. He will hold that position for two years.

Ešenvalds and Kamēr… have a long history together, as the choir has premiered a number of his works, and Ešenvalds for many years has sung in the Latvian State Choir Latvija, also conducted by Sirmais.

His popular compositions include an arrangement of the traditional spiritual “Amazing Grace,” “A Drop in the Ocean” (dedicated to Mother Teresa), “Aizej, lietiņ!” (based on Latvian folk songs), as well as “Tāls ceļš” and “Mazā bilžu rāmītī” (his arrangement of the song by Prāta vētra lead singer Renārs Kaupers, with lyrics by famed Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis). All of these songs are included on O Salutaris.

The CD also contains fragments from Ešenvalds’ “Ziemassvētku leġenda,” a Christmas themed performance that features popular Latvian performers such as Kaupers and ethnomusicologist Valdis Muktupāvels.

Kamēr… has plucked laurels worldwide, performing everywhere from the United States to China, with one of their greatest achievements in recent years being the World Sun Songs project.

For further information on Kamēr…, visit www.kamer.lv. For more on composer Ešenvalds, visit www.eriksesenvalds.com.

The fourth entry in the Sviests folk music collection has been released by the Rīga-based Lauska label.

The Sviests 4 compact disc continues on the tradition of the previous releases—Sviests (2005), Sviests 2 (2007) and Sviests 3 (2009)—by gathering a wide variety of Latvian folk song interpretations, most of which are new recordings not available elsewhere.

The album includes tracks from established folk veterans such as Iļġi, Laiksne and Austris Grasis to newer ensembles such as Vīteri, DER and Rudzi. Besides songs in Latvian, there are songs in Latgallian (such as “Kuopu, kuopu kolnā” by Krampis) and the Liv language (“Opsasā” performed by Tai tai). Many different musical styles are represented, such as the ambient instrumental interpretation of “Šķērsu dienu saule tek” by Vētras saites, the Renaissance styling of “Kūmāmi iedama” by Trakula, and the drum-centric “Ūsiņš” by Pērkonvīri un Laima (featuring Mikus Čavarts of the drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi).

The collection contains 22 songs, and the CD booklet has details about each ensemble in Latvian and English.

Tracks include:

1. “Skaista mana tēva sēta” by Folkvakars
2. “Trīs rītiņi saule lēca” by Iļġi
3. “As beju muotei vīneiguo meita” by Vīteri
4. “Opsasā” by Tai tai
5. “Suņi rēja” by Lāns
6. “Kuopu, juopu kolnā” by Krampis
7. “Kas redzēja auseklīti” by Tērvetes trubadūri
8. “Uz kariņu es aizgāj” by DER
9. ”Šķērsu dienu saule tek” by Vētras saites
10. “Upura dziesma” by Ēnu kaleidoskops
11. “Tumsā gāju vakarā” by Vilkači
12. ”Ūsiņš” by Pērkonvīri un Laime
13. “Kūmāmi iedama” by Trakula
14. “Kurt u skrīsi” by Rudzi
15. “Dejas sajūta” by Teiksma
16. “Vysu dīnu jumi jiemu” by Liene Brence and Alga Sprindža
17. “Malējbalsis” by Miglas asni
18. “Labāk kuļu rudza riju” by Laiksne
19. “Doncuot guoju ar meitom(i)” by Austris Grasis un draugi
20. “Skaista muižeņa” by Ilža
21. “Pa taciņu gar upmalu” by Hāgenskalna muzkanti
22. “Vecpuiša pankūkas” by Rīgas danču kluba muzikanti

A new Sviests collection is released every two years.