A vibrant performance from David Geringas of Vasks' exhilarating Cello Concerto.

This fine disc is the Riga Philharmonic’s – and Conifer’s – second foray into the music of the Latvian Peteris Vasks (b. 1946). The first [reissued as Catalyst 64286], containing five shortish items conducted by Kriss Rusmanis, was one of those rare beasts, a real breakthrough disc for a composer little known outside his country. This newcomer, with Jonas Aleksa now at the helm, presents two more substantial utterances which in my opinion make a stronger claim for Vasks as a leading contemporary figure than did its predecessor.

The Cello Concerto is cast in five movements, pairs of cantuses and toccatas framing a central Monologue. New Simplicity is the dominant style of the outermost spans, but with the toccatas Vasks moves into more varied terrain (he clearly knows his Shostakovich). The concerto is an exhilarating score and receives here a vibrant performance from David Geringas. Aleksa and the Riga players also give a splendid account of the Symphony for strings, Voices (1990-91), though they face stiff competition from the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra under Juha Kangas. In general, the Finnish ensemble achieve more precision in their playing and benefit from better sound, so that more of the effects Vasks asks for can be heard. Kangas also consistently adopts faster tempos, but Aleksa has as sure an interpretative grasp of the whole. In the end it comes down to couplings (pieces by Lithuanians on Finlandia): I for one would not want to be without the Cello Concerto. Recommended.

-- Gramophone [12/1996]

Latvian composer Peteris Vasks(b. 1946) has earned much international acclaim through his deeply spiritual works of choral music, symphonies and concertos. Vasks’ list of works also includes several pieces of chamber music. This album by Trio Palladio from Latvia includes Vasks’ works for the piano trio. Trio Palladio is a chamber music ensemble of three established Latvian soloists, avid chamber musicians and acclaimed recording artists Eva Bindere, Kristina Blaumane and Reinis Zarinš. Each of them is the laureate of the Grand Music Award of Latvia, and in 2019 they were nominated for this prestigious award as a trio. Recently the trio had its debut recital at the London Wigmore Hall and the trio’s interpretations have been broadcast live on the BBC Radio 3,as well as the Polish and Latvian radio. Trio Palladio creates conceptual programs with rich variety of classical, romantic and contemporary chamber music, with particular focus on works by Latvian and Baltic composers.

REVIEW:

What I admire most about Peteris Vasks is his deep spirituality. It permeates all of his music, even his early avant-garde compositions. This release features three of his works for piano trio. All three are quintessentially Vasks.

Three of Latvia’s best chamber musicians comprise the Trio Palladio. Their performances of their compatriot’s music plumb the depths of Vasks’ works. The trio plays not just beautifully, but lovingly. And that makes this an album I’ll revisit time and again.

– WTJU-FM (Charlottesville, VA) [Ralph Graves]

Includes work(s) by Peteris Vasks. Ensemble: Riga Wind Quintet.

The Seasons

Peteris Vasks was born in Aizpute, Latvia, the son of a church minister. He studied the double bass and composition in Riga and Vilnius, among others with Valentius Utkins, and was a member of various symphony and chamber orchestras. He currently is a free-lance composer living in Riga. Among the works of Vasks, his compositions for string orchestra are of particular importance. With the help of several works scored for strings, the CD on hand imparts comprehensive knowledge of the development that Vasks has undergone since the last 70's. Vasks wrote in the introduction to his symphony "Stimmen" [Voices]: "At the end of 1990 I had begun to write the symphony. Then came January 1991. Blood was flowing in the streets of Latvia and Lithuania. Sleepless nights at the barricades. After all that, the new beginning was difficult. The symphony speaks of my essential, most meaningful themes. About life. About eternity. About conscience. I wrote it with love and faith."

The Turkish pianist Idil Biret was one of the greatest child prodigies of the 20th century. Her recital at the Boston Conservatory demonstrated that she is no less prodigious today. 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Triciu is the place of tradition, not only for music but for historical and artistic meanings. In this district actually, the signs of millenary history still resist the test of time. Mascarimir�, whose music background is in the Italian rock scene, developed a conscience for Salentine traditional music. The concept behind it represent a challenge: finding a way to make contemporary traditional music using Salentine traditional music. The result in this recording is rather innovative. The sound of 'Pizzica' takes new shapes. These sounds create new 'Pizzica' dances too. There is also space for cross-cultural contaminations. Triciu is a piece thought between Salentine 'Pizzica' and Ragamuffin. A sound that is broadly spread among the youth and written precisely for them. 8018344070285 SENL28.2 27536780 .00 18.99 .25 SENSIBLE COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 11/13/2007 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/0/0/2/1612009.jpg 8 1 N SCHUMANN / BEATSON SOMM NEW HORIZONS 748871308626 SOMM86.2 14810381 .00 20.99 .23 SOMM RECORDINGS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 12/08/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/7/0/3/1/1581307.jpg 7 1 N MAHLER / KUBELIK / BAYERISCHEN RUNDFUNKS SO SYMPHONY NO 8 4022143955517 AUDT95551.2 15045263 .00 14.99 .23 AUDITE COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 05/25/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/2/3/4/1654321.jpg 0 1 N HANDEL,GEORGE FRIDERIC / MCGEGAN / FOG / FRIEDRICH ADMETO Tim Mead, Marie Arnet, William Berger, Andrew Radley, David Bates, Kristen Blaise, and Wolf Matthias Friedrich star in this 2009 Internationale Haendel-Festspiele Goetingen production of the Handel opera. 814337010201 CMAJ702008DVD 15031075 .00 66.99 .32 C MAJOR DIGITAL VIDEO DISC CLASSICAL OPERA / OPERETTA / ORATORIO 05/25/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/9/3/3/4/1654339.jpg 10 2 N NISHIZAKI / SUZUKI / DENNIS / WATKINS NISHIZAKI PLAYS SUZUKI EVERGREENS 1 Naxos' Takako Nishizaki Plays Suzuki Evergreens albums feature acclaimed violinist Takako Nishizaki who, as a child, studied with her father, Shinji, and with Shinichi Suzuki himself. 747313237876 NXS8572378.2 15031631 .00 19.99 .20 NAXOS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 05/25/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/4/6/3/4/1654364.jpg 0 1 N DALLAPICCOLA / MASSA / BRSO / HIRSCH PIANO RARITIES: PICCOLO CTO PER PIANO FORTE E ORCH 845221050454 CIO5045.2 15031051 .00 21.99 .25 CAPRICCIO COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 05/25/2010 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/6/9/3/4/1654396.jpg 136 1 N BEETHOVEN PROJECT TRIO / BEETHOVEN BEETHOVEN 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GEMISCHTEN CICHA NOC: STILLE NACHT 409350834189 CARU83418.2 14049545 .00 20.99 .25 CARUS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS / CHANUKKAH 10/14/2008 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/1/9/2/8/1438291.jpg 20 1 N SACKMAN / MICHAL / SACKMAN / MCKINLEY / MICKA DIVERGENCE 896931000581 NVON5858.2 16007239 .00 18.99 .12 NAVONA COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC & RECITALS 09/27/2011 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/b/500/4/6/3/0/1890364.jpg 5 1 N GLUCK / GEDDA / PREY / ZADEK / KEILBERTH IPHIGENIE AUF TAURUS 845221050058 CIO5005.2 14928949 .00 18.99 .39 CAPRICCIO COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 02/24/2009 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/a/500/3/6/4/3/1483463.jpg 199 2 N KORNGOLD / CHOR DER OPER FRANKFURT / WEIGLE DIE TOTE STADT 4260034869486 OEHM948.2 16007628 .00 31.99 .48 OEHMS COMPACT DISCS CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL & SYMPHONIC 09/27/2011 https://media.aent-m.com/graphics/items/sdimages/c/500/8/0/4/0/1890408.jpg 2 2 N SCHUBERT / SCHUMANN / BOSTON SYM ORCH / LEINSDORF LEGACY: ERICH LEINSDORF This material represents some of the earliest televised concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductor Erich Leinsdorf. 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With the exception of the Te Deum" (recorded in St. Gertrude in Riga), all of the works were recorded on the magnificent organ of the cathedral in Riga. Here, over the course of the past twenty years, Talivaldis Deksnis, since 1984 one of the principal organists of this venerable house of worship, has performed all of Vasks's works for organ, many of them for the first time. The bird songs that Vasks so dearly loves and characteristic hymn-like choruses can be clearly heard on the organ as well, though they now sound more peaceful and distant; the threatening clusters of chords, which warn of a coming global catastrophe, also lose a bit of their terror. Besides original compositions for organ, this CD also includes two adaptations of works for string orchestra: "Viatore" (which has also been recorded for WERGO by the Sinfonietta Riga and Normunds Sne; see WER 67052) and "Canto di forza", both dedicated to Talivaldis Deksnis, with whom Vasks has maintained a lifelong friendship. The two organ adaptations are surprisingly different in their effect from the original versions for string orchestra. In the ethereal registers of the organ, the "human" voices of the string instruments rise to weightless, immaterial heights. They flow out into realms of light. "I am absolutely certain that music helps to keep the world in balance." (Peteris Vasks)

I have always dreamed that my music would be heard in the places where unhappy people are gathered - in hospitals, prisons, overcrowded trams and buses... consoling and questioning. - Peteris Vasks. Peteris Vasks' main mission is a panegyric of love. There are characteristic symbols in Vasks' music: birdsongs associated with ultimate freedom; elements of Latvian folk music as reminders of Latvian identity; toccata-like passages expressing an evil and brutal force, and aleatoric episodes picturing the scenes full of despair and chaos. Besides the all-embracing humanism, the destiny and history of Vasks' homeland Latvia have always been present in his music. Born in 1946 at Aizpute, a town situated in Western Latvia, Vasks has spent most of his life under the regime of Soviet occupation, witnessing both the suppression of the Latvian language and deliberate russification of the Latvian nation. Deeply felt pain of his oppressed nation, it's endangered identity and the portrayal of totalitarianism at it's most brutal became the dramatic vein of Vasks' music. The present recording of the String Quartets Nos. 1, 3 and 4 complete the string quartet oeuvre of Peteris Vasks already recorded. All string quartets were released on the occasion of the Latvian composer's 70th birthday. Each of the five string quartets was composed at a different time, but they all cover almost thirty years of his creative experience and clearly illustrate the basic principles of Vasks' musical language.

Classical Music

Vasks, P.: Gramata Cellam / Partita / Episodi E Canto Perpet

This disc offers the world première recording of Viatore ('The Wanderer', 2001), which may be described as a representation in sound of 'becoming' or 'passing' - a spiritual journey in familiar Vasks territory. All the works were recorded in the presence of the composer by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra - an ensemble whose previous BIS recordings have all been highly acclaimed. The orchestra's performances on one of their latest offerings - H.K. Gruber's Manhattan Broadcasts BIS-CD-1341) - were termed "masterful" (Gramophone), "a triumph" (BBC Music Magazine), and "superb" (The Times). Under the direction of the orchestra's leader Katarina Andreasson, who also performs the solo part of the violin concerto, the playing on the present disc is no less committed.

Classical Music

Classical Music

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.


Without question Peteris Vasks is one of the major composers active today. His Third Symphony does everything that a fine new work in the form should. It covers a wide range of moods, from sounds of nature and tranquil beauty, to rude energy and passionate anguish. It's effectively structured over its single-movement, 40-minute span, with plenty of contrast built in and many memorable thematic and gestural ideas along the way. It has a recognizably "Nordic" feel, especially in the luminous string writing and feeling of loneliness (or vastness, as you please) behind some of the harmony. Best of all, it's approachable on first hearing, but it never panders or preaches, remaining a classic example of elevated taste and sophisticated symphonic thought. What more could anyone possibly want?

The Cello Concerto is similarly well conceived, a satisfying "arch form" in which two outer "Cantus" movements enfold two toccatas, which in turn bracket a central "Monologhi". The writing for the soloist is very effective and exploits the full expressive potential of the instrument. The work was composed for Latvian cellist David Geringas, who recorded it with the Riga Philharmonic for Conifer. That performance was very good, perhaps a bit edgier in the two toccatas, but soloist Marko Ylönen has a more refulgent tone, and the Tampere Philharmonic plays with greater polish and warmth under John Storgards.

This orchestra actually commissioned the Third Symphony, and this, its premiere recording, also is splendid in every way, including the excellent SACD multichannel sonics. If you care at all about contemporary music then you will add this disc to your collection without delay. Vasks' music deserves the widest possible recognition by the international community, and it's very gratifying that Ondine is there to see that he gets it.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Includes work(s) by Peteris Vasks. Ensemble: Riga Sinfonietta. Conductor: Normund Sne.

Esthetic games as ends in themselves are far from the mind of the Latvian composer Peteris Vasks. He believes in "L'art pour l'homme" (Art for mankind) rather than "L'art pour l'art" (Art for art's sake). He sees his music as a language of the soul. This program features elegant performances of Sala, Musica appassionata and Credo from the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Atvars Lakstigala.