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Peteris Vasks in New York and Los Angeles

Apr. 26, 2012

Peteris Vasks in New York and Los Angeles

Latvian composer Peteris Vasks’ music features on both coasts this month, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s performances of his violin concerto Distant Light, and a portrait concert by the Park Avenue Christian Church Choir led by Paul Vasile. Soloist Alina Pogostkina joins Gustavo Dudamel for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's performance of Vasks’ Violin Concerto on May 10 and 12. Composed for the composer’s childhood friend Gideon Kremer five years following the emancipation of the Baltic States in 1996 and premiered at the Salzburg Festival, Distant Light suggests a vision of a “better world” in the distance. The is comprised of a sequence of strongly contrasting sections of demanding virtuosity alongside Latvian folk themes.

On Tuesday, May 8, the Park Avenue Christian Church Choir, led by Paul Vasile, presents the first concert in New York dedicated solely to Peteris Vasks’ music. The concert features two powerful works for organ and chorus, Viatore and Canto di forza, and his String Quartet No. 4. The Park Avenue Christian Church Choir writes on itns website:

We celebrate the work of acclaimed Latvian composer Peteris Vasks with the first New York City program dedicated entirely to his music. Known for deeply spiritual works which often incorporate elements from Latvian music and place them within a dynamic and challenging relationship with the language of contemporary music, the program will feature two monolithic works for organ and Vasks' alternatingly dramatic and tender String Quartet No. 4.

More on the life and music of Peteris Vasks can be found at www.schott-music.com.

Details on the concerts are located at www.laphil.com and www.smarttix.com.

Peteris Vasks
Violin Concerto (1996/1997)
“Distant Light”
for violin and string orchestra
30’

Viatore (2002)
for organ
15’

also available in a version for string orchestra

Canto di forza (2005)
for organ
14’

also available in a version for 12 cellos

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