The Latvian Radio Chamber Singers (Latvijas Radio kora grupa), made up of members of the larger Latvian Radio Choir, and conducted by Kaspars Putniņš, have released a new CD – Latvijas jaunā raža (New Latvian Harvest) featuring new choir compositions by Latvian composers.

The Chamber Singers, according to the CD booklet, were founded in the early 1990s with the goal of creating a smaller soloist ensemble to focus on contemporary, often experimental, choir works.

The CD, featuring compositions by younger Latvian composers such as Mārtiņš Viļums, Santa Ratniece, and Ēriks Ešenvalds, among others, also includes brief biographies of all the composers, brief commentary on the works, and all song texts in Latvian and English (as well as original language).

For more information on the Latvian Radio Choir, please visit their website at http://www.radiokoris.lv

Track listing:

1. Le temps scintille… – Mārtiņš Viļums

2. Verso l’alto (Part I – Ho atteso) – Ruta Paidere

3. Verso l’alto (Part II – Ma le mie urla) – Ruta Paidere

4. Verso l’alto (Part III – In quest’oscuro) – Ruta Paidere

5. Light Seeking Light – Gundega Šmite

6. Sleep – Rolands Kronlaks

7. horo horo hata hata – Santa Ratniece

8. Ligeija – Kristaps Pētersons

9. Sunset: St. Louis – Ēriks Ešenvalds

Swedish Latvian rock ensemble Alis P, led by Gundars Rullis, return with their third album Attiecību putra. Alis P, who began performing in 1979, is now made up of Rullis (vocals, guitar), Edgars Rubenis (bass) and Edgars Āboliņš (drums).

Attiecību putra follows 2009’s Uz priekšu, which was released after a twenty-one year gap after their first album, Alis iet pastaigāt (released on LP in 1988).

Attiecību putra is currently available only as a digital download, though the band may release the album on LP if there is demand for it.

For further information, visit the Alis P website at http://www.alispudelis.lv or their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/alispudelis. To preview Attiecību putra, visit http://alisp.bandcamp.com/album/attiec-bu-putra

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Bank of Latvia, as well as the anniversary of the national currency, the Bank of Latvia has released a new silver commemorative coin whose is identical to the design of perhaps the most famous and beloved Latvian coin of all time – the silver 5 Lati coin.

Originally minted in 1929, 1931 and 1932, the 5 lati coin, with its iconic image of a Latvian maiden on the reverse, became a treasured heirloom during the time of Soviet occupation. The image of maiden, based upon Zelma Brauere (who was a proofreader at the State Securities Printing House), was designed by graphic artist Rihards Zariņš, and the Latvian coat of arms on the obverse was based on the design by Vilhelms Krūmiņš.

Also, in 2003, as part of the series ‘The Smallest Gold Coins in the World’, the Bank of Latvia released a gold coin using the design of the original silver 5 lati coin.

Unlike the original minting of the coin, which was 83.5% silver, this new release is 92.5% silver. The coin has a face value of 5 lati and was minted by the Royal Mint in the United Kingdom. The coin can be purchased at offices of the Bank of Latvia, as well as numismatic shops in Latvia.

For further information, please visit the Bank of Latvia website at www.bank.lv