- Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Poga
- Concerto for 5 Percussionists and Orchestra (1983) with Latvian percussion ensemble "Perpetuum Ritmico" and Elīna Endzele
- Violin Concerto (1974) with Latvian violinist Eva Bindere
- Beatae voces tenebrae (1977) for symphony orchestra
- Release date: 6 November 2020
Despite having composed eight symphonies, twelve concertos, three cantatas, piano music, as well as host of chamber work, the music of Latvian-Canadian composer Tālivaldis Ķeniņš (1919-2008) is seldom recorded – something the Latvian Music Information Centre (LMIC) is hoping to rectify with recordings of three of his works in a new album to be released on 6 November 2020 on its SKANi label.
Conducted by their Music Director Andris Poga, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra perform his Concerto for 5 Percussionists and Orchestra (1983) with Latvian percussion ensemble Perpetuum Ritmico and Elīna Endzele, his Violin Concerto (1974) with Latvian violinist Eva Bindere, and his Beatae voces tenebrae (1977) for symphony orchestra.
One of Canada and Latvia’s foremost composers of the 20th century, Ķeniņš’ musical legacy has left an indelible mark on the culture of both countries. After studying composition at the Latvian Conservatory under Jāzeps Vītols, at the end of World War Two like many Baltic composers at the time, Ķeniņš fled to Paris. He continued his musical education at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris under Tony Aubin and Olivier Messiaen before emigrating once again – to Canada where he was to become one of the country’s most prominent composers. Claimed by both Canada and Latvia as their own, he was Professor at the University of Toronto and President of the Canadian League of Composers yet his homeland remained close to his heart. He founded the Toronto Latvian Concert Association and when Latvia regained independence in 1991, he was one of the first of its exiled composers to renew cultural ties with their homeland. Ķeniņš was named Officer of the National Three-Star Order of the Republic of Latvia in 1995 and in 2005 received Latvia’s ‘Great Music Award’, the highest prize given by the Latvian state in the field of music.
Tālivaldis Ķeniņš: Violin Concerto, Beatae voces tenebrae, Concerto for Five Percussionists and Orchestra will be released (CD or download) on 6 November 2020.
TRACKLISTING:
Violin Concerto (1974)
Eva Bindere, violin
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Andris Poga, conductor
1. Moderato con moto
2. Piu lento
3. Doppio movimento. Scherzoso
4. Doppio piu lento
5. Cadenza. Senza misura
Concerto for Five Percussionists and Orchestra (1983)
Guntars Freibergs, Ernests Mediņš, Elvijs Endelis, Mikus Bāliņš, Elīna Endzele, percussion Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Andris Poga, conductor
6. Vivo e marcato - Un poco meno mosso
7. Tranquillo
8. Molto animato
9. Lento
10. Coda. Presto
11. Beatae voces tenebrae (1977)
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Andris Poga, conductor
Recorded at: Great Guild Concert Hall, Riga, 2020
Recording producer: Normunds Šnē
Editing, mixing, mastering: Normunds Šnē
Booklet text: Orests Silabriedis
English translation: Amanda Zaeska
Photos: Jānis Porietis
Design: Gundega Kalendra, Raugs.eu
Executive producer: Egīls Šēfers
(P) Latvian Music Information Centre & Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, 2020 © LMIC/SKANi 088, 2020
buklets latviski / booklet in English
www.skani.lv
EAN: 4751025440581
SKANi is a division of the Latvian Music Information Centre (LIMC). Funded by the Latvian Ministry of Culture, its goal is to produce high quality recordings of Latvian classical music performed by Latvian musicians and to share them with audiences worldwide promoting Latvia’s classical music heritage – including both emerging and established talent – through its distinctive and varied programming. It has released 44 commercial recordings since it was founded in 2014 and has longstanding relationships with the Latvian Radio Choir, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, State Choir “Latvia”, Sinfonietta Riga, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and many other soloists and chamber music groups.