Bernstein, Gershwin, Ellington, Björk, and Linda Leen

25. August 17.00, Great Hall

Bernstein, Gershwin, Ellington, Björk, and Linda Leen

Linda LEEN – vocals

Gints PABĒRZS – saxophone

LNSO and LATVIAN RADIO BIG BAND

Conductor Guntis KUZMA

Programme: Irving BERLIN, Leonard BERNSTEIN, BJÖRK, Duke ELLINGTON, George GERSHWIN, Cole PORTER, Linda LEEN, Kārlis VANAGS (new work)

The Festival concludes with a collaboration between the LNSO and Latvian Radio Big Band – a colourful, intense repertoire of orchestral jazz. The LNSO's classical prowess and LR Big Band's popular music experience is a double creative force, guided and led by the LNSO conductor Guntis Kuzma in close collaboration with the LR Big Band conductor Kārlis Vanags.

Special guests: magnificent singer and songwriter Linda Leen and virtuoso saxophone player Gints Pabērzs.

Orchestral jazz is a rare sight in Latvian concert posters. The genre is commonly associated with its inceptor Paul Whiteman and such composition giants as Gershwin, Ellington, Porter, and others. The LNSO and LRBB will perform both classics of the genre, both contemporary works in the 25 August programme.

You will hear orchestral jazz classics by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. In addition, the programme includes contemporary pieces like Björk's It’s Oh So Quiet, Linda Leen's hit Plough Me Like the Field, and a new work by Kārlis Vanags written specially for the concert.