Liepāja Symphony Orchestra perform dynamic works of Latvian composers on second concerti CD

Egils Kaljo | 

The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra has long had close relationships with many Latvian composers. The Orchestra actively promotes new works, and many composers have written works dedicated to the Orchestra or works for the Orchestra to premiere. This culminated with the Liepāja Concerti project, where twelve Latvian composers were invited to compose a concerto for the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra to perform and record.

The first volume, entitled Liepāja Concerti Vol. I, was released in 2017, and contained concertos by composers Rihards Dubra, Vilnis Šmīdbergs, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Juris Karlsons and Kārlis Lācis, and was released by the Odradek record label.

The second volume, Liepāja Concerti II, was released in 2018 by the Latvian national record label Skani, and the two CD collection contains works by composers Kristaps Pētersons, Andris Dzenītis, Arturs Maskats, Andris Vecumnieks, and Platons Buravickis. All the works are from live performances conducted by former artistic director of the LSO, Atvars Lakstīgala.

Kristaps Pētersons’ Second Liepāja Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, a single movement work, begins with a tentative, plucked cello melody, performed by Kristīne Blaumane. Blaumane’s cello performance is full of sound effects, reflecting the variety of sounds the cello can produce. As the orchestra joins in, the tension rises within the work, with Blaumane’s cello at times harsh, other times ominous. At times it even sounds like Blaumane is in conflict with the orchestra, almost in battle, or perhaps trying to escape. This conflict continues until the subdued conclusion of the work, which ends with a few wistful, barely audible cello tones.

A crash of piano, performed by celebrated Latvian pianist Vestards Šimkus, introduces the First Liepāja Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, by Andris Dzenītis. Entitled ‘Duality’, which, as per the composer, is meant to reflect the suffering and misery that can arise when something is divided. The composer even uses the word ‘anarchy’ when describing the work, and this is certainly a description that many listeners will think of, considering the way the instruments seem to thrash against each other. The weighty one movement work, at almost forty minutes, can be an exhausting, even terrifying listen. However, there are moments of serenity and calm which balance out the more turbulent elements, and Šimkus provides a bravura performance throughout this challenging work, particularly in the range of emotions displayed in the extended piano solo section.

The third concerto in this collection, Arturs Maskats’ Twelfth Liepāja Concerto for Piano and Orchestra offers a rather dramatic contrast with the first two works. Maskats is known for his melodic, even delicate works, and his three movement concerto features many of the often theatrical flourishes the composer is known for. Pianist Reinis Zariņš crafts an engrossing atmosphere, particularly in the second movement, entitled ‘Dances for the Moonlight’, where Zariņš’ piano flows together with the sound of the orchestra to conjure a romantic evening.

The Trio ‘Art-I-Shock’ feature on composer Andris Vecumnieks’ Fifth Liepāja Concerto ‘Concertino Art-I-Shock’. The trio, made up of Guna Šnē on cello, Elīna Endzele on percussion and Agnese Egliņa on piano, provide an energetic and nuanced performance. Though the work has five movements, each is brief, almost like individual miniatures, which come together to form a multicolored performance. At times playful and even humorous, other times sentimental, Vecumnieks weaves together French, Italian, and his own elements to create a vivid engaging musical story.

The final work in the collection, composer Platons Buravickis’ Eleventh Liepāja Concerto for Voice and  Orchestra features the vocal talents of soprano Julianna Bavarska. Bavarska’s singing, a wordless vocalize, is often beautiful, but also tense, soaring above the deliberate, methodical performance of the orchestra. The music, which at times sounds like a military march, particularly in the staccato brass instruments, is at times relentless in its progress, while Bavarska’s voice is in a near-constant state of motion, not seeming to pause at all.

The five works on Liepāja Concerti II highlight the broad universe of sound and style that can be found in modern Latvian academic music. From passages of harsh dissonance to moments of sublime beauty, conductor Atvars Lakstīgala and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra lead listeners through a myriad of sonic explorations and journeys and prove themselves to be peerless interpreters of these diverse and dynamic works that highlight the creative abilities of Latvian composers.

For further information, please visit the Skani website and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra website.

Liepāja Concerti II

LMIC / SKANI 065, 2018

Track listing

CD I

1. Kristaps Pētersons – Second Liepāja Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, dedicated to Visvaldis Ziediņš

Kristīne Blaumane, cello

2. Andris Dzenītis – First Liepāja Concerto for Piano and Orchestra “Duality” (2010) / 40:42

Vestards Šimkus, piano

CD II

Arturs Maskats – Twelfth Liepāja Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (2017) / 27:56

Reinis Zariņš, piano

1. Dances for the Spring Rain and Wind

2. Dances for the Moonlight

3. Dances for the Dawn

Andris Vecumnieks – Fifth Liepāja Concerto “Concertino Art-i-Shock”

Trio Art-i-Shock: Guna Šnē, cello; Elīna Endzele, percussion; Agnese Egliņa, piano

4. Grazioso I

5. Quasi valse. Con sentimento

6. Toccata

7. Quasi valse. Senza sentimento

8. Grazioso II

9. Platons Buravickis – Eleventh Liepāja Concerto for Voice and Orchestra (2016)

Julianna Bavarska, soprano

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

New York Latvian Concert Choir releases Christmas CD

Egils Kaljo | 

New York Latvian Concert Choir (Ņujorkas latviešu koris) has released its latest Christmas themed CD, entitled Ziemassvētki laika vējos (or Latvian Christmas in the Winds of Time). Released by Albany Records (TROY1851, 2020), the CD collects works by Latvian composers Laura Jēkabsone, Mārtiņš Brauns, Andrejs Jansons, and Andris Sējāns.

The NYLCC has released many CDs, all containing original compositions dedicated to the choir. Other CDs released by the choir include Christmas in Latvia, Latvian Winterfest, and Christmas Joy in Latvia, a release that was profiled in Rolling Stone magazine, who also declared it one of the 25 best Christmas albums.

On the album, recorded in Latvia at the Latvian Radio Studio in January of 2020, the NYLCC is joined by several other choirs and ensembles – the youth choir Balsis, the women’s choir Balta, the chamber choir Fortius, and the Latvian National Opera Chamber Orchestra. All the works were conducted by the NYLCC artistic director Laura Padega Zamura.

For further information, please visit the New York Latvian Concert Choir Facebook page and the Albany Records website.

Track listing:

  1. Ziemassvētku kantāte “Gausi nāca, drīz aizgāja” – Laura Jēkabsone
    Ziemassvētku cikls Ņujorkas latviešu korim – Mārtiņš Brauns
  2. Vienīgais
  3. Bērna lūgšana
  4. Egles
  5. Sniedziņš
  6. Uguntiņa
    Ziemassvētku kantāte – Andrejs Jansons
  7. Ziema nāk
  8. Šupuļdziesma
  9. Ķekatu dziesma
  10. Svētceļnieku dziesma
    7 O Antifoni – Andris Sējāns, Dabas koncertzāle
  11. O Sapientia
  12. O Adonai
  13. O Radix Jesse
  14. O Clavis David
  15. O Oriens
  16. O Rex Gentium
  17. O Emmanuel

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

Voting by post to be made available to those voting abroad in Latvian municipal elections

Saeima Press Service | 

On Thursday, 17 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading amendments to the Law on Elections of the Republic City Council and Municipality Council, allowing voters abroad to participate in municipal elections by post. 

According to the explanatory note to the amendments, the changes aim to promote the participation of eligible voters in municipal elections, to support the civic and political participation of the diaspora, and to engage as many members of the diaspora as possible in municipal processes, thus maintaining their ties with Latvia and the Latvian identity. 

Voting by post was proposed in view of the fact that until now, voters abroad could not participate in municipal elections as voting was only organised in person and in the territory of Latvia. 

To vote by post, voters abroad will have to apply prior to the elections. Applications will be accepted on-line via the public administration services portal www.latvija.lv, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs website, or in person in Latvian embassies and representative offices. Alternatively, applications may be submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by using the official electronic address, or sending the application by post. The application shall indicate the voter’s e-mail address, to which a website address, containing voting materials, will be sent. 

The amendments stipulate that voters may submit their applications to vote by post 70 days before to the day of elections, but no later than 42 days prior to the day of elections. 

Upon receiving an application to vote by post, the CEC will verify whether the applicant is eligible to vote in the respective council elections, and then register the applicant in the Voters’ Register, as well as send a link, containing voting materials, to the e-mail address indicated by the applicant.     

The voter is required to print out the voting materials, select the relevant ballot paper, and make an appropriate mark. The ballot paper is than placed in an envelope, the envelope is sealed, and placed in a separate registration envelope, which the voter sends to the election commission of the relevant city council or municipal council. There, the envelopes are to be registered and stored unopened until the counting of votes commences. 

According to the data available to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over 370 thousand Latvian nationals reside abroad permanently, and most of them left their homeland during the last 10 years. 

Saeima Press Service