The Latvian Radio Choir to perform in Shanghai

In the second half of October, the Latvian Radio Choir will head out on a tour of China where in a series of concerts they will introduce the audience with the music of Baltic and Nordic composers. The programmes The Nordic Sound and The Traditional Music of the Baltics have put a great emphasis on the works of Latvian composers, represented by such great classics as Jānis Cimze, Alfrēds Kalniņš, and Emilis Melngailis and their vibrant traditional folk song arrangements, as well as pieces by modern authors.

On Friday, the 11th of October at 19:00 at the Riga St. John’s church the Latvian Radio Choir and conductor Kaspars Putniņš will perform a new programme The Present One. The main thematic axis of the programme will be the prayer Ave Maria that has inspired such 19^th century greats as Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms and continues to be reborn in the works of contemporary composers: for this programme, Maija Einfelde and Andris Dzenītis’s interpretations of Ave Maria has been chosen.

Soghomon Soghomonian (1869–1935), known as Komitas, was a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church who is rightfully considered to be one of the greatest Armenian composers of all time. His musical genius has been praised even by the likes of Claude Debussy.

Komitas was excellent at playing the flute and piano; he was an outstanding conductor and musicologist, who collected and transcribed Armenian folk music.

On 24 and 25 August, the Latvian Radio Choir and conductor Sigvards Kļava will take part in one of the most notable musical forums of the Northern Europe - the Baltic Sea Festival. Their unique musical project - choir opera NeoArctic, a cooperation between the choir and Danish production company Hotel pro Forma, with the music of Krists Auznieks and Andy Stott, and directed by Kirsten Dehlholm - will continue its world travels within the walls of the Orionteatern.

This weekend, the Latvian Radio Choir and its artistic director Sigvards Kļava will perform in Switzerland and Germany. The choir has been invited to perform at the Solsberg festival on 15 June, and it will be at the Klangvokal music festival in Germany the following day.