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Cover: Pēteris Vasks – Plainscapes

Pēteris Vasks

Plainscapes

Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Klava

ODE 1194-2 · CD · January 2012

Buy / listen

The outstanding Latvian Radio Choir focuses once again on works by cult composer Peteris Vasks.

Track listing

11 tracks · 71:25

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Peteris Vasks

  1. 1 The Tomtit?s Message (Ziles zina, 1981/2004) 9:34
  2. Silent Songs (Klusas dziesmas, 1979/1992) 10:58
  3. 2 I. Nosapi parsapi 3:38
  4. 3 II. Dusi dusi 1:36
  5. 4 III. Tris mezi 3:08
  6. 5 IV. Paldies tev vela saule 2:35
  7. 6 Our Mother?s Names (Musu masu vardi, 1977/2003) 12:32
  8. 7 The Sad Mother (Skumja mate, 1980/91) 3:35
  9. 8 Summer (Vasara, 1978) 4:22
  10. 9 Plainscapes (Lidzenuma ainavas, 2002) 16:41
  11. 10 Small, Warm Holiday (Mazi, silti svetki, 1988) 1:27
  12. 11 Birth (Piedzimsana, 2008) 12:17

About this recording

This CD presents a cross section of a cappella choral works by cult composer Pēteris Vasks, performed by the acclaimed Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava.

Following on from their successful recording of liturgical Vasks compositions ("Beautifully performed, a rare outing for Vask's choral music" - Gramophone) (ODE 1106-2), the Latvian Radio Choir once again draws on the Baltic countries' extraordinary choir music tradition, focusing here on secular repertoire.

The title piece on this disc is Plainscapes, written in 2002 for mixed choir, solo violin (Sandis Šteinbergs) and solo cello (Guna Āboltiņa) on commission from violinist Gidon Kremer; meditating on the inspiring beauty of the Latvian lowlands, it uses vocalises to celebrate nature's cyclic miracles. The Sad Mother (1980/91) and Summer (1978) are written for female choir. In Birth (2008) a mixed choir, together with a solo percussion (Jānis Kokins), pays tribute to the sun as a symbol for life.

The present release features world premiere recordings of Our Mother's Names (1977/2003), The Sad Mother (1980/91), Summer (1978), and Small, Warm Holiday (1988).

Ondine's releases of Peteris Vasks' music have garnered several awards, including a 2004 Cannes Classical Disc of the Year Award for the Second Symphony (ODE 1005-2).

Features

Booklet with liner notes in English and the song texts in the original Latvian and in English

Press

(...) aina kun Latvian radiokuoron julkaisee levyn, kyseessä on merkkitapaus.
Kare Eskola, YLE Radio 1, 19.1.2012

The artists

Latvian Radio Choir

The Latvian Radio Choir is a full-time professional chamber choir founded in 1940. Chief Conductor Sigvards Kļava and Conductor Kaspars Putniņš have led the choir since 1992. The ensemble's repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present day, with a primary focus on exploring the capabilities of the human voice and seeking to extend its limits. A major part of the repertoire is dedicated to contemporary music and composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The choir is also open to creative experiments and often participates in dramatic performances and multimedia projects. The ensemble regularly commissions works from leading Latvian composers such as Pēteris Vasks and Ēriks Ešenvalds.

Full biography

Sigvards Klava

Sigvards Kļava began working with the Latvian Radio Choir in 1987 and was appointed its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director in 1992. As one of Latvia's most prolific choral conductors, Sigvards Kļava has collaborated with every leading choir and orchestra in the country, performing the great works of the standard repertoire in addition to conducting most premieres of new choral works by Latvian composers. He has recorded numerous albums with the Latvian Radio Choir. Sigvards Kļava has also been Chief Conductor at a number of Latvian and Nordic song festivals. He is a co-founder of the Latvian New Music Festival ARENA and serves as a member of its artistic board. He teaches young conductors at the Choral Department of the Latvian Academy of Music and the Choral College of the Riga Lutheran Cathedral. Sigvards Kļava appears as a guest conductor with leading European choirs. He has received the Latvian Great Music Award and the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Award.

Full biography

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