The internationally renowned Latvian Radio Choir has long been an advocate of new music by Latvian composers. Throughout many decades of performances, the Choir has premiered many new works, and not just Latvian composers, but also many internationally known composers, seek out the Latvian Radio Choir, due to their performance and interpretative skills.

In collaboration with the Latvian record label Skani, the Latvian Radio Choir, conducted by  Kaspars Putniņš and Sigvards Kļava, released its latest collection of new choir music by Latvian composers in 2024. Entitled Angele Dei, the album features choir works of a sacred and spiritual nature.

Composer Pēteris Vasks has often included spiritual themes in both his choir and instrumental works, and this collection includes two of his choir songs – “Angele Dei” and “Actus Caritatis”, both based on Catholic prayers. The quietly meditative “Angele Dei” gradually builds to an emotional crescendo, and the Latvian Radio choir skillfully presents this work, with its long phrases, with an expressive, emotional depth. Similarly, “Actus Caritatis”, a slow and deliberate work, with its soaring melody, displays Vasks’ innate ability to generate moving and spiritually uplifting music.

“Sensus”, with music by Krists Auzinieks, is a highly complex work for 24 voices, is full of sonic textures and vocal effects. Based upon a fragment from Paul the Apostle’s Letter to the Romans, Auzinieks weaves together the various voices into a dynamic and robust composition. The choir deftly brings together the many disparate voices into an expansive, layered performance, creating an enveloping musical experience.

Ruta Paidere’s “Magnificat” is, as the composer herself states, an attempt to develop “a sound that was archaic but at the same time also contemporary”. Blending elements from various sources, including Jewish and Buddhist chants, as well as from Palestrina’s “Magnificat”, Paidere’s work, at times has the choir whispering, then later builds to a revelatory enlightenment at the conclusion, and the choir provides for a compelling performance of this multi-faceted work.

Andris Dzenītis is a composer who is also known for his melding of multiple styles and elements, modern sounds and traditional elements, and the two compositions on this collection – “Om, Lux Aeterna” and “Lūgšana” (Prayer) are vivid examples of his compositional style. “Om, Lux Aeterna” contains elements from Christian, Buddhist and Vedic beliefs, and, with the choir’s artistic mastery, creates a revealing journey through the world’s religions. On the other hand, “Lūgšana” (the Lord’s Prayer in Latvian) is a calmer, more reflective work, and perhaps less complex than Dzenītis’ works usually are, but still provides an emotional weight with its radiant harmonies.

Santa Ratniece’s “Nighttime Light” is a striking example of Ratniece’s distinctive style, with perhaps less focus on musical harmonies, but with more on sound textures, exploring the boundaries of what a human voice is capable of. The resulting work, at times mysterious, even slightly ominous, is still richly spiritual, and the shimmering vocals gradually dissipate at the work’s ethereal conclusion.

Perhaps the most demanding and challenging work (for both the choir and listeners) on the album is Mārtiņš Viļums’ “The Fate of King Lear’s Children”, inspired by the Irish legend ‘The Children of Lir’. The work is often harsh, with discordant harmonies, and this performance displays the skill and talents of the choir, and particularly conductor Kaspars Putniņš, who deftly weaves together all the many disparate and intricate vocal lines into a cohesive and engaging whole.

Angele Dei, beyond being another testament to the abilities of the Latvian Radio Choir and conductors Kaspars Putniņš and Sigvards Kļava, is also a compelling document of modern Latvian choir music, displaying the great range of abilities and styles currently being implemented by Latvian composers.

For further information, please visit the Latvian Radio Choir website.

Angele Dei

Latvian Radio Choir, conductors Kaspars Putniņš, Sigvards Kļava

LMIC/SKANi 163, 2024

Track listing:

1. Pēteris Vasks – Angele Dei

2. Krists Auznieks – Sensus

3. Ruta Paidere  – Magnificat

4. Andris Dzenītis – Om, Lux Aeterna

5. Andris Dzenītis – Lūgšana

6. Santa Ratniece – Nighttime Light

7. Pēteris Vasks – Actus Caritatis

8. Mārtiņš Viļums – The Fate of King Lear’s Children

Latvian pianist Dzintra Erliha continues to explore and champion the works of women composers of the 21st century. Beginning with 2023’s album Serena, Erliha has expanded upon that collection with a second album – 2024’s Dreamscape, released by the Prima Classic label. The album, once again, displays the breadth and depth of 21st century piano music. Erliha notes that the works on the album were chosen because “they resonate with my inner world.”

Composer and pianist Starr Parodi, known for her contributions to film and television music, provides “The Heart of Frida (Corazon Hermoso)”, inspired by painter Frida Kahlo. Kahlo’s husband, Mexican painter Diego Rivera, described her as “lovable as a beautiful smile, and as profound and cruel as the bitterness of life”, and the contrasting aspects of Kahlo are revealed in Erliha’s performance, with both light and dark moods.

The undulating, meditative “Marina”, by Spanish composer María Eugenia León, is a work dedicated to the composer’s mother. As her mother loved the sea, the music evokes waves, and Erliha’s light touch fills the work with tenderness and love.

Erliha also frequently collaborates with composers, and, in turn, she has received many dedications, many of which are included on Dreamscapes. Turkish composer Esin Aydingoz provides one such dedication – “Gentle Willpower”, a work with a subtle political message, about a desire for leaders that will endeavor to use ‘soft’ power, and Erliha imbues the work with hope and yearning. Other works by Aydingoz are featured on the album, including “The Land of Passion”, a work about her native Turkey and the passionate people there, and “Funeral For Your Memories”, about a painful breakup. Erliha provides an emotionally resonant interpretation of the work, full of melancholy and sadness.

Many of the works on Dreamscape are somber and filled with sorrow and perhaps none as much as Leanna Primiani’s “Loss for Solo Piano”, a work also dedicated to Erliha. The piece was inspired by the death of Primiani’s mother. The work interweaves both positive memories as well as the sadness of knowing the end is approaching. Erliha balances both these aspects in her performance, both the celebration of life, as well as grief and loss, resulting in a poignant and heartbreaking interpretation.

Though brief, Suad Bushnaq’s “Prelude” is a sweeping and majestic work. Ukrainian composer Ganna Sorbat’s “Memories of Valse”, has a sentimental atmosphere. Even in these comparatively short works, Erliha provides memorable and moving performances.

Erliha is joined by violinist Tatjana Ostrovska and cellist Ivars Bezprozvanovs on a few of the recordings, including Lolita Ritmanis’ “Vignettes from the Park”, a work dedicated to Erliha, that paints a picture of a walk in a park. The trio vividly recreate different scenes from this walk, from a boisterous conversation by a fountain to a spirited, almost whimsical, depiction of a boy with a dog and a kite. The trio also perform Ritmanis’ “Dreamscape”, a dreamy, wistful work, and the interplay between the instruments creates a fragile and delicate atmosphere.

Dzintra Erliha’s musical journey through the expansive and diverse world of piano music by women composers remains an engrossing and enlightening adventure. Revealing the many facets and layers of these compositions, Erliha’s talents in creating immersive and nuanced performances are on full display on Dreamscapes.

For further information, please visit Dzintra Erliha’s website, as well as the Prima Classic website.

Dreamscape

Dzintra Erliha

Prima Classic, PRIMA024, 2024

Track listing:

1. Starr Parodi “The Heart of Frida (Corazon Hermoso)”
2. María Eugenia León “Marina”
3. Suad Bushnaq “Prelude”
4. Esin Aydingoz “Gentle Willpower” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023, premiere)
5. Esin Aydingoz “The Land of Passion”
6. Ganna Sorbat “Memories of Valse”
7. Esin Aydingoz “Funeral For Your Memories”
8. Leanna Primiani “Loss for Solo Piano” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023; premiere)
9. Starr Parodi “Piano Improvisation of Albinon’s Adagio in G Minor”
10. Esin Aydingoz “Flamma”
11. Sabine Kezbere “Lilleaker” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2021; premiere)
12. Esin Aydingoz “Years Gone By” for violin, cello, piano
13. Lolita Ritmanis “Dreamscape” for violin, cello, piano

Lolita Ritmanis “Vignettes From the Park” for violin, cello, piano (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023; premiere)

1. Moderato: Conversations by the Fountain
2. Andante: Moonlight Love
3. Allegro: The Kite, the Boy, the Dog