On May 14, the birthday of the outstanding Latvian composer Lūcija Garūta was celebrated. In the concert dedicated to the memory of Lūcija Garūta, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music lecturer Dzintra Erliha, together with the nominee of the “Great Music Awards 2019”, cellist Ivars Bezprozvanovs, played the compositions of Lūcija Garūta, Pēteris Vasks, Imants Zemzars and Jānis Lūsēns.
It is also a tribute to the memory of Daina Pormale, founder of the Lūcija Garūta Foundation, who has passed away.
About musicians
Laureate of international competitions, pianist Dzintra Erliha Jāzepa Vītola developed and defended her doctoral thesis “Chamber music of Lūcijas Garūta: biographical context, style and interpretation” at the Latvian Academy of Music, obtaining the Ph.D. Art. degree. Dzintra Erliha has won international piano competitions in Italy, France and Canada. She has given concerts in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Finland, Ukraine and other countries. In January 2017, in cooperation with the record company “Skani”, the CD album “Citādas krāsas” was released, in which, together with the flutist, laureate of the “Latvijas Great Music Awards 2015” Ilona Meija, compositions by Latvian composers for flute and piano were recorded. In 2018, together with world opera star Maija Kovalevska and LNO soloist bass Krišjānis Norvelis, the music album “Ar siltu sirdi” was recorded and released, the proceeds of which are dedicated to charity.
Ivars Bezprozvanovs has worked in the State Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Tovijs Lifšics, since 1997 he has been the concertmaster of the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, since 2003 he has been a teacher at the Emīla Dārziņš Music High School. In cooperation with the composer and pianist Pēteris Plakidis, in 1992,Tālivaldis Ķeniņš composition “Sarunas ar dzimteni” on the theme of Imanta Zemzars was premiered in Latvia. In 1991, Olivier Messiaen’s quartet “Laika galam” was premiered in Latvia in the “Transatlantic trio” founded together with the American clarinetist Erika Paula Mandat. He has given concerts in Latvia, USA, Canada, England and elsewhere, premiered many vocal-instrumental compositions of Latvian composers. Long-term and important cooperation has been with the vocal group “Putni” led by Antra Dreģe, as well as with Canadian Latvian pianist Artūrs Ozoliņš. Regular stage partners have been pianists Pēteris Plakidis, Herta Hansena, Aldis Liepiņš, Dzintra Erliha, Valdis Jancis, Agnese Egliņa.
About “Come prima”
Before chamber music began to be played in concert halls, it was played mainly at home for more than 100 years, which is why the title of the concert series “Come prima” is a musical term in Italian: as before, as at first. Its idea is to return to the beginning of home music, to create a relaxed and cozy atmosphere in which to talk and play music with friends.
The events of the concert series organized in cooperation with Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” have already received public response, establishing a new, unprecedented tradition of chamber music in the renovated Chamber of the VEF Culture Palace and attracting new people interested in the world of chamber music.
The cycle of chamber music concerts and talks “Come prima” started by the VEF Culture Palace continues to offer listeners to enjoy the music of inspiring artists and their stories about what was played from the stage of the Great Hall of the VEF Culture Palace in the form of digital concert recordings.