Ēriks Kiršfelds

Whether performing as a soloist, a chamber musician or a member of a full orchestra, the talents and skills of cellist Ēriks Kiršfelds are equally evident. He won the Latvian Grand Music Award in 2009 for outstanding work in an ensemble and, upon receiving the nomination, was thus lauded in the media: “The full sound Kiršfelds creates with the cello is not only very beautiful but also full of meaning. With no desire whatsoever to boast or flaunt, what he finds important is like-mindedness and collaboration, and indeed, as a member of an ensemble he provides a 100% reliable pillar of support.”

Kiršfelds often performs with pianists Herta Hansena and Toms Ostrovskis, violinist Sandis Šteinbergs, clarinettist Egīls Šēfers and singer Ieva Parša. He has also developed concert programmes with the Perpetuum Ritmico percussion ensemble and performed with many other musicians.

Kiršfelds has premiered the work of many Latvian composers, from pieces written for solo cello to compositions for chamber ensemble and concerti. Among these composers are Ilona Breģe, Rihards Dubra, Maija Einfelde, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Mārīte Dombrovska, Andris Dzenītis, Rolands Kronlaks, Linda Leimane, Ruta Paidere, Kristaps Pētersons, Pēteris Plakidis, Santa Ratniece, Anitra Tumševica, Imants Zemzaris and others. In addition to the classical cello, Kiršfelds has on occasion appeared at premieres playing electric cello, bass guitar and electronic instruments.

In Latvia, Kiršfelds has played at the Cello Cēsis, Arēna and Skaņu Mežs festivals as well as the Autumn Chamber Music Festival; he has also performed Latvian music at the Warsaw Autumn festival. He feels equally comfortable whether playing on stage in a large concert hall or, for example, at the Riga Circus or Oviši Lighthouse in rural Latvia.

Kiršfelds is the principal cellist of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and accompanies the chamber ensemble class at the Jūrmala Music High School.

As a soloist, Kiršfelds has performed with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Sinfonietta Rīga and the Orchestra “Riga”. He has worked with conductors Atvars Lakstīgala, Andris Poga, Andres Mustonen, Lior Shambadal and others.

For almost fifteen years since the founding of Kremerata Baltica in 1997, Kiršfelds served as the chamber orchestra’s principal cellist and frequently also as a soloist. He was a member of the Kremerata Baltica sextet and, later, of the KB6 ensemble. In addition, he has collaborated with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

Kiršfelds has led the Spīķeru String Quartet since its founding in 2011. Together they performed music of the Classical and Romantic eras as well as 20th-century music and the work of Latvian composers, including the premieres of Four Bagatelles for string quartet by Imants Zemzaris and the String Quartet No. 3 “Introversion and Farewell” by Andris Dzenītis. Kiršfelds also participated in the Spīķeru String Quartet’s recording of Pēteris Vasks’ first five string quartets, released on two albums by the Wergo record label (2015–2016). The project marked the world premiere recording of Vasks’ String Quartet No. 5.

Kiršfelds has also recorded for Latvian Radio. His performance of Mystery of His Birth, with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra conducted by Atvars Lakstīgala, can be heard on the album of Rihards Dubra’s music released by the Skani national Latvian recording label in 2020.

Kiršfelds studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School under Dzidra Račevska and at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where he studied under professors Māris Villerušs and Eleonora Testeļeca. He continued his education with Arto Noras at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and graduated from Ivan Monighetti’s cello class at the Basel Music Academy.

LMIC 2020