Peteris Vasks, Knuts Skujenieks | world premiere

Members

Latvian Radio Choir

Conductor - Sigvards Kļava

Peteris Vasks, guided by an inner commission, has created a choral song cycle set to the verses of his kindred poet, Knuts Skujenieks—modern-day folk songs whose wisdom transcends time. The composer has sought to translate these texts into sound with tenderness, sincerity, and love, approaching the great poet’s words with deep reverence.

On this evening, alongside the highly anticipated world premiere of Pēteris Vasks’ song cycle, the central pillar of the program will be the performance of Francis Poulenc’s cantata Figure Humaine - a musical cry for freedom. This opus was composed during World War II, at a time when France was under Nazi occupation. Written for a twelve-part double choir, this masterpiece is not only technically complex and vocally demanding but also an emotionally charged statement on oppression, resistance, and the indomitable human spirit.

Poulenc himself provided differing accounts of the work’s genesis, yet it is clear that the poetry used in the cantata is closely linked to the French Resistance. He composed it in deep secrecy, fully aware that such an artistic expression could be deemed dangerous. The composition reflects both the rich tradition of French vocal polyphony and daring harmonic transitions, with striking contrasts between silence and grand surges of sound. The final movement, Liberté (Freedom), became an especially significant symbol - its text was printed on leaflets and scattered over France by the Allies, inspiring the resistance movement and offering hope to the nation’s occupied people.

After the war, Figure Humaine became one of the most powerful musical tributes to freedom and human dignity. It is considered one of the most challenging choral works, demanding not only technical mastery but also deep emotional understanding from its performers.

At this concert, the cantata will serve as a poignant reminder of the power of art in times of resistance and hope, uniting Poulenc’s masterful musical language with the boundless faith in the human spirit expressed by the poet Paul Éluard.

Meanwhile, Max Reger - one of the foremost figures of late German Romanticism and a master of polyphony - found inspiration in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, blending sacred traditions with emotional expressiveness and poetic depth. In his choral compositions, he also turned to the verses of German Romantic poets, reflecting on human life, nature, and transcendence.

Program:

Peteris Vasks – Song cycle set to the poetry of Knuts Skujenieks (world premiere)

Francis Poulenc – Figure Humaine

Max Reger – Geistliche Gesänge, Op. 138 

The creation of Peteris Vasks’ song cycle was made possible with the support of Andris and Regīna Deičmanis, whose dedication to and unwavering support for the arts continue to inspire and enrich our cultural landscape.