Latvian Radio Choir
(Kaspars Putniņš, conductor)
CANTI SACRI

Canti Sacri
Sacred music concert. Choral pieces by J. Desprez, N. Gombert, K. Saariaho, A. Boyd, J. Harvey, Ph. Glass etc.
Latvian Radio Choir was founded in 1940, since 1992 it has been led by principal conductor Sigvards Klava and conductor Kaspars Putnins. The Choir's permanent company consists of 25 singers, what can be varied from small groups for madrigals to more than sixty singers in performances of large-scale musical forms.
The Choir's repertoire is very wide, it consists of all major concert and oratorio works, covering music from the early Renaissance, the music of the Baroque era and the most complicated contemporary music. Besides active work in the radio studio and releasing CD records, Latvian Radio choir performs up to 60 concerts per year in Latvia and abroad, taking part in different music festivals, scenic works.
Development of Latvian music and work with Latvian composers has always been important part of the choir's repertoire strategy. In collaboration with Latvian Radio Choir many of compositions by the world famous Latvian composer Peteris Vasks have been performed. Maija Einfelde composition At the Edge of the Earth received the Grand Prix at Barlow International Competition in USA in 1997. Mārtiņš Viļums work Le temps scintilla won the first award in the 52nd International Rostrum of Composers in 2005 in Vienna.
Latvian Radio choir is frequent guest in new music festivals and forums all over the world. In 2006 apart from 25 concerts in Latvia the choir will perform in the following events festival Jauna Muzika in Lithuania, festival Time of Music in Finland, Montpellier Radio festival in France, including a capella concert with French actor Gérard Depardieu, Vale of Glamorgan Festival in Wales, Klangspuren festival in Austria, Baltic Sea Festival in Sweden, Rotherham Arts festival in England, Tenso Days in Berlin, as well as concerts in Israel and Belgium.
For four times - for years 1994, 2000, 2004 and also 2005 Latvian Radio Choir was awarded Latvian Music Grand Prix, which is the highest honour for professional achievements in music in Latvia today. Latvian Radio choir also has received largest Latvian newspaper Diena Annual Culture Award 2005.
Latvian Radio choir one of the latest CDs On Photography is is among the nominations for the Contemporary Music Award in the Classical Brit Awards and within January 2006 editions editors choice of international music magazine Gramophone and has received Latvian professional music magazines Muzikas Saule award as the best classical music record in Latvia in 2005.
Latvian Radio choir together with Chœur de Chambre Accentus, Chœur de Chambre Accentus, Nederlands Kamerkoor and RIAS Kammerchor are founding member of Tenso - European Research Program on Vocal Art Development of Patrimonial Repertory and Contemporary Creation. Tenso, was set up in 2004 as an independent association, bringing together scientific personalities and managers of great a capella ensembles in Europe, proposes a new step in the renewal of vocal art supported by singing professionals from all Europe. Focused on the exploration of patrimonial repertory and the development of creation, its organization is based on active partnerships within a European network including choirs, research institutes, training centres, concert and theatre institutions, and the publishing industry.
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