The Latvian Radio Choir. Imants Kalniņš

In May 2021, Imants Kalniņš, one of Latvia’s most beloved composers, will turn 80. In celebration of this, the Latvian Radio Choir and their conductor Sigvards Kļava have prepared a concert recording with the stories of Imants Kalniņš music, sung through poets.
The programme features songs featuring the poetry of Jānis Poruks, Ojārs Vācietis, Māris Čaklais, and Broņislava Martuževa. Throughout the different stages of the composer’s artistic life, poets have served as an artistic impulse, an internal request to create the composer’s music. The pursuit of beauty, love, rebellion, a philosophical approach, and poetic longing tie the spirit of Kalniņš to the poetry world. The concert will also feature recordings of Kalniņš speaking about these poets.
“I think a song is the ultimate form of music. Music is in its very foundation created for singing”, in his book Jauno mūzika (The Music of the Young) has said Imants Kalniņš. In this programme, we shall hear such compositions as Kalniņš’s choir songs from the cycle Desmit dziesmas ar Jāņa Poruka vārdiem (Ten Songs with Jānis Poruks’ verses), the rock ballad Septiņas skumjas zvaigznes (Seven sad stars), the melody of which later grew into the Symphony No. 4, Es atnācu klusēdams (I Arrived Silent), Kur zvaigzne tā (Where is that star), Marija, Aglonas mātei (Marija, for Mother of Aglona) and others.

Programme

Music of Imants Kalniņš

Participants

Jānis Strazdiņš, bass
Dārta Paldiņa, soprano
Gundega Krūmiņa, alto
Rihards Plešanovs, piano
Andis Klučnieks, flute
Mārcis Lipskis, double bass
The Latvian Radio Choir
Conductor Sigvards Kļava
Director Roberts Rubīns

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