"When" for choir and cello (2016) by young Latvian composer Jan- Jēkabs Jančevskis (born 1992), and "Prana" (2018) by Slovenian composer Petra Strahovnik (born 1986) are the works selected by radio music producers participating in the 66th International Rostrum of Composers (IRC) held in San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina), from May 13 to 18, 2019. A flagship programme of the International Music Council, the IRC took place for the first time in its history outside Europe, co-organized with FIMBA – Festival International de Musica Bariloche.
Pursuing its mission to promote contemporary music creation through broadcasting for over sixty years, the annual Rostrum has this year again strengthened its role as one of the most important “rendez-vous” for professional exchange between radio producers. Its overall objective remains fostering the exchange of performances of contemporary music between broadcasting organisations. For example, works chosen at the preceding Rostrum (2018) were given some 700 broadcasts by participating networks as well as affiliates of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The 2019 Rostrum gathered representatives from 27 national radio networks from four continents, which presented 50 works composed within the five years preceding the Rostrum. 19 of these works were by composers under the age of 30 and 17 by female composers. Evert van Berkel, recording producer and coordinator for P2 live at the Swedish Radio, chaired the sessions. After the listening sessions, the assembly of delegates selected and recommended the most distinctive works in two categories: general and “young composers under 30”.
In the “young composers” category, the work selected as most worthy for worldwide broadcasting was "When" for choir and cello (2016) by young Latvian composer Jēkabs Jančevskis (born 1992). The composition was presented by Latvian Radio.
"When" for mixed choir and cello was commissioned by Latvian Radio Choir and conductor Kaspars Ādamsons. There are two strong inspirations goals: the one is the choir, other one – the text by William Shakespeare. Jančevskis says: „Sometimes the music just arises, and there is no explanation why and how… If there aren’t suggestive and meaningful words, then I wouldn’t be proud of the result of music” (Jēkabs Jančevskis).
In addition to the selected works, 12 other works (see list further) were recommended for broadcasting and concert presentation after the Rostrum by the participating and other interested radio stations.
The results of this year’s Rostrum were announced at a press conference held at the Villa Huinid Hotel Pioneros on May 17th.