The German music label Wergo, a long-time supporter and proponent of Latvian classical music and performers, particularly the works of Pēteris Vasks, has released Vox Amoris, a collection of Vasks’ works for violin and string orchestra.

Featuring violinist Alina Pogostkina performing with Sinfonietta Rīga and conductor Juha Kangas, the collection contains three works – ‘Vox Amoris’, described as a fantasia per violin ed archi, as well as ‘Tālā gaisma’ – a concerto for violin and string orchestra, and finally ‘Vientuļais eņģelis’, a meditation for violin and string orchestra.

The performances were recorded in 2011 and were produced by Normunds Šnē and the Latvian concert agency Latvijas Koncerti. The CD booklet features a lengthy essay on the music of Pēteris Vasks by Christiane Krautscheid, as well biographies of Pogostkina, Sinfonieta Rīga and Kangas.

Other Vasks CDs released by Wergo include Viatore (also featuring Sinfonietta Rīga), Cantus ad pacem (organ works performed by Tālivaldis Deksnis), and Gadalaiki (piano works performed by Vestard Shimkus). The Finnish record label Ondine also released a CD in 2003 with ‘Tālā gaisma’ – featuring John Storgårds on violin.

CD tracklisting:

1. Vox Amoris – fantasia per violin ed archi
2. Tālā gaisma – Distant Light – Concerto for violin and string orchestra
3. Vientuļais eņģelis – Lonely Angel – meditation for violin and string orchestra

More information on this compact disc can be sourced from the Wergo record label – www.wergo.de, Latvijas koncerti – www.latvijaskoncerti.lv or The Pēteris Vasks Fund – vaskafonds.lv