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Cover: Eriks Esenvalds – St Luke Passion · A Drop in the Ocean · The First Tears · Litany of the Heavens

Eriks Esenvalds

St Luke Passion

A Drop in the Ocean · The First Tears · Litany of the Heavens

Ieva Ezeriete, soprano
Ieva Parsa, mezzo-soprano
Liga Paegle, alto
Jänis Kursevs, tenor
Daumants Kalnins, baritone
Aleksandrs Maijers, recorder & jaw harp
Sinfonietta Riga
Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Klava, conductor

ODE 1247-2 · CD · May 2016

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Track listing

11 tracks · 67:34

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Eriks Esenvalds

  1. Passion according to St Luke 30:36
  2. 1 I Espressivo. ?Crucify him, they all cried? 3:52
  3. 2 II Misterioso. ?Behold the timber of the cross is a carpenter?s work? 2:32
  4. 3 III Espressivo. ?And there followed him a great company of people? 1:43
  5. 4 IV Adagio. ?Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu? 3:40
  6. 5 V Espressivo. ?Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do? 4:58
  7. 6 VI ♪ = 56. ?And they parted his raiment, and cast lots? 3:45
  8. 7 VII ♪ = 69. ?And the soldiers mocked him, offering him vinegar? 5:11
  9. 8 VIII Cantabile. ?Does that lamp still burn in my Father?s house? 4:55
  10. 9 A Drop in the Ocean 8:22
  11. 10 The First Tears 14:53
  12. 11 Litany of the Heavens 13:43

About this recording

Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977) is one the leading Latvian composers of vocal music and one of the leading Latvian composers of his generation. This recording features new works by the composer with the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir conducted by Sigvards Kļava.

The title piece of the recording is a 30-minute Passion according to St Luke, a work in eight movements completed by the composer in 2014. The work holds a special place in the composer’s repertoire as the first Passion by the celebrated composer of several choral works. The music is sumptuous, rich, and powerful, with heroic, picturesque, passionate, and ethereal elements.

A Drop in The Ocean (2006) is an impressive vocal work dedicated to Mother Teresa while The First Tears (2014) is based on an Inuit legend. Litany of the Heavens (2011) is a mysterious and magical work based on a religious poem by Fricis Bārda.

Latvian Radio Choir’s previous releases on Ondine have been highly successful. For instance, the recording of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil (ODE 1206-5) was chosen as the Record of the Month, Editor’s Choice and received a nomination in the Gramophone Awards in 2013. Also their most recent release of choral works by Valentin Silvestrov (ODE 1266-5) received Gramophone Editor’s Choice.

Features

Sleeve notes and lyrics in English

The artists

Ieva Ezeriete

Soprano Ieva Ezeriete began her musical career as a participant of the famous children ensemble Knīpas un knauķi (Toddlers). Since 1985 Ieva Ezeriete has been a member of the Latvian Radio Choir and as a soloist indispensable in the Latvian Radio Choir's performances of both classical and contemporary music. Apart from her duties at the Latvian Radio Choir, she sings solo parts at performances of large-scale vocal and instrumental compositions. In 2007 Ieva Ezeriete was awarded the Latvian Great Music Award for an outstanding performance in ensemble.

Full biography

Sinfonietta Riga

Sinfonietta Rīga was formed in 2006. The orchestra of 34 young musicians is led by artistic director, oboist and conductor Normunds Šnē. Sinfonietta Rīga's musical direction and repertoire development are based on two principal aims: to pass on the rich traditions of music to the next generation of performers and audiences and to enlighten their listeners by presenting a thoroughly modern selection of works. The orchestra has performed with such soloists and conducters as Baiba Skride, Patrick Gallois, Roger Muraro, Martin Grubinger, Kirill Troussov, Alina Pogostkina, Peter Donohoe, Claudia Barainsky, Monica Groop, Sigvards Kļava, Heinz Holliger, Christoph Poppen and Juha Kangas. Both in 2007 and in 2008, Sinfonietta Rīga received the the Great Music Award of Latvia.

Full biography

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

Also recommended

Yuri Falik · Arturs Maskats · Georgy Sviridov

Choral Works

Aleksandrs Antonenko · Ieva Ezeriete · Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava

ODE 1226-2 · CD · Aug 2014

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