Christmas Festival. The State Choir Latvija and Māris Sirmais. Christmas Star

Performers: Kristīne Adamaite (organ), Oskars Petrauskis (saxophone), The State Choir “Latvija”, conductor Māris Sirmais

Programme: 

I part

Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
All-Night Vigil* (*selected pieces from the cycle) (a cappella)

II part

Ēriks EŠENVALDS (1977)
Adoremus in aeternum

Morten LAURIDSEN (1943)
O Magnum Mysterium

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976)
Te Deum

Kim André ARNESEN (1980)
Making or breaking

Eric WHITACRE (1970)
Leonardo dreams of his flying machine

Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
Vocalise

Kirby SHAW (1941)
A Baroque Christmas

ABOUT PERFORMERS:

OSKARS PETRAUSKIS, saxophone

One of the most spectacular Latvian instrumentalists, studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and Berlin University of the Arts, graduated professor Artis Sīmanis’ class with a master's degree in 2007. In February 2007, he won 1st place in the international Yamaha SaxContest competition (Germany). Since the summer of 2007, he works as a concertmaster of the saxophone group of the Professional Symphonic Orchestra “Rīga”. Together with Xylem Trio, he has achieved the “Annual Latvian Music Recording Award 2008 and 2009” for “the Best Album of Instrumental Music”. Regularly performs with pianist Raimonds Petrauskis and Xylem Trio.

KRISTĪNE ADAMAITE, organ

Kristīne has been the concert organist for Riga Cathedral since 1991. Organist for St. Saviour's Church since 1996. Lecturer for organ play at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and teacher of the organ at Luther’s Academy. A trusted and inspirational partner for many choirs and soloists, who invite Kristīne on joint musical adventures. Receiver of the “Grand Music Award 2014” for “Excellent Performance in an Ensemble”.

MĀRIS SIRMAIS, conductor

Māris Sirmais is one of the most important names in the world of choir music; supporter of Latvian choir culture and its promoter, whose suggestions are obeyed by the thousands of voices of the participants of the Latvian Song Festival, as well as professional musicians. A generator of ideas and a creator of grand projects. A passionate patriot of Latvia with an international range of actions. Artistic manager of the State Choir Latvija, since 1997. Māris Sirmais has mentored one of the brightest symbols of Latvian choir culture, the youth choir Kamēr. He was its main conductor from its foundation in 1990, until 2012. He is a professor of conducting at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, as well as a jury participant for the international choir at conducting competitions. The receiver of the Order of the Three Stars, member of the year of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, received many titles and awards for cultural achievements and the promotion of Latvia in the world.

THE STATE CHOIR "LATVIJA"

During its 76 years of existence, has become one of the most recognisable European choirs, wanted in the concert programmes of many excellent conductors and orchestras all around the world. Other world-class orchestras have asked them to cooperate, such as Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bremen’sDeutsche Kammerphilharmonie Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonia Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras in Finland, Germany, Russia, Estonia, Israel, the USA, Singapore. The choir has sung under the guidance of outstanding conductors such as Mariss Jansons, Zubin Mehta, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev, Simon Young, Stephen Layton, Andris Nelsons, Vladimir Fedoseyev and others.