Iveta Apkalna / State Choir Latvija / Māris Sirmais

Music and especially singing has a long tradition in Latvia. Singing in a group with other people is seen as the epitome of Latvian identity. The Latvian singing festival held every five years with tens of thousands of participants is an event of national importance, and has even made it onto the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Baltic country has produced a whole number of composers.

Ēriks Ešenvalds, for example, is one of the most sought-after choral composers of our time. His works are performed around the world, from Europe to the USA and Australia. His composition »A Drop in the Ocean«, which depicts the life of Mother Teresa, opens with a mood all mystical and mysterious, gradually intensifying into ecstatic ten-part polyphony.

And while old master Pēteris Vasks has the organ take a solo role in his work »Cantus ad pacem« (Song for Peace), we can look forward to the premiere of his new work for organ and choir, jointly commissioned by the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and the Orgelfestival Stadtcasino Basel.