Reinis Zariņš, piano

State Choir Latvija

Conductor Māris Sirmais

One of the grand concerts marking the 10^th anniversary of Cēsis Concert Hall with appearances by outstanding Latvian artists.

The first part of the programme will present an extraordinary interplay between the choir and the pianist: opuses by John Tavener, performed a cappella by the State Choir Latvija, will be followed by a response from Reinis Zariņš through piano pieces by Olivier Messiaen.

The second part of the concert will see the world premiere of a new piece by Ēriks Ešenvalds, a symphony for piano and choir ‘Letters’. The symphony is set to fragments of the final texts ever written by a number of Latvian writers and poets: Imants Ziedonis, Jānis Poruks, Māris Čaklais, Regīna Ezera, Aspazija, Rainis and others.

‘The symphonism of their thoughts keeps digging mountains, and they – the ones who have departed – keep writing. Aspazija keeps writing, Vācietis keeps writing, the two Bārdas, Belševica, Ziemeļnieks…

As a white-black key strikes a string in the manuscript, the silence grows as huge as their mountains. And I want to hold on to the harmony just a little longer…’ says the composer about his new piece.