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Ansis Sauka

(18.04.1963 )

"I am happy for that what is, and I do not think about that, what is not."

Ansis Sauka

 

The composer and singer (bass) Ansis Sauka was born on April 18th, 1963 in Pļaviņas. He studied in the piano department of the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music (1979–1983, Dagnija Freidenfelde-Gailīte), the vocal department of the Latvian Academy of Music, (1987–1992, Bruno Egle, Sergejs Martinovs, Gurijs Antipovs), and, as an elective, in the composition department (Pauls Dambis), as well as master’s studies in the vocal department (1993–1995, Gurijs Antipovs). He furthered his training in the vocal arts with Brūss Ābels (1994, Germany), and Rahele Shulova (1999, Israel).

He was a choir artist with the State Academic Choir Latvija (1985–1987), and a soloist with the Latvian National Opera (1995–1998). He debuted at the Latvian National Opera in the role of Colline in G. Puccini’s opera La Boheme, and sang bass roles in G. Verdi’s opera Rigoletto, G. Puccini’s operas Turandot, Tosca and others. His most notable role was Salieri in N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Mozart and Salieri, conducted by Leonīds Vīgners. He has participated in the requiems of A. Bruckner and W. A. Mozart, the cantatas and Magnificat of J. S. Bach, the J. Haydn Mass and other vocal instrumental performances. He has also performed in the genre of chamber music, singing the vocal chamber music work of J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, F. Schubert, J. Brahms and has collaborated with pianist Valdis Jancis and other singers, creating interesting Latvian (E. Melngalis, J. Vītols, E. Dārziņš, L. Vīgners) musical programmes. As a soloist, he has visited Germany, France and Holland.

He has turned to teaching work: he was a piano teacher at the 6th Riga secondary school (1985–1995), he is a vocal instructor for the Riga 1st primary school youth choir Kamēr... (as of 1994) and the State Academic Choir Latvija (as of 1998). The centre of his creative work is vocal music. His choir music has been performed by many choirs in Latvia, including Dzintars, Kamēr..., the State Academic Choir Latvija, as well as the vocal group Putni.

His music has been performed in Finland, Iceland, Germany, France, Spain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. He is a member of the Riga Latvian Society, and an honourable member of the Samshoblo Georgian Society.

Arvīds Bomiks, Mārīte Dombrovska © LMIC