Listen to samples on selected tracks.
The deeply spiritual and timeless music of Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) has touched many listeners in a profound way during the last few decades. Today he is among the most frequently performed living composers. This new recording includes eight choral pieces by the Estonian composer performed by the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir under Sigvards Kļava.
The works on this recording span a period of nearly 25 years, from 1988 to 2012, and include some of Pärt’s finest works in vocal writing, including the three-movement Triodion and the 7-movement Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen. The dominant stylistic feature of these works is his famous tintinnabuli style which he adopted after distancing himself from his early style that adopted neo-classicism, serialism and polystylism.
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 recent release of choral works by Valentin Silvestrov (ODE 1266-5) received Gramophone Editor’s Choice.
Sleeve notes and lyrics in English
'You'll be hard-pushed to find a disc of Pärt choral music more enjoyable than this'
BBC Music Magazine, March 2017
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.
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.
Eriks Esenvalds
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
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Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava, conductor
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Aleksandrs Antonenko · Ieva Ezeriete · Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava
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Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava
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