Lūcija Garūta (1902–1977) is one of the first Latvian professional composers (women), who wrote dozens of a cappella chord songs. And only now with this album we experience several premieres of songs. Like many composers who were born in the beginning of the 20th century in Latvia and survived the times of occupation, L. Garūta’s work can be divided into before and after the Second World War. About the young composer, who was educated in Paris (1926–1928) in addition to her studies at the Latvian Conservatory, in the memories of her contemporaries in the 1930s, we read that L. Garūta’s solo song evenings, in which the composer herself sat at the piano, accompanying the most brilliant soloists of that time – soprano Milda Brehmane-Štengele, mezzo-soprano Herta Lūse, tenor Mariss Vētras and baritone Ādolfs Kaktiņš – were full of standing ovations. L. Garūta was enraptured by the unusual interplay of ideas between the most current in the world of music, bravely defending even the ideas of the French “Six”, and between the faithful string tension of Latvian music, especially celebrating the Latvian folk song.
Kristiāna Vaickovska
The album “Apple Tree” includes the best-known a cappella chord songs of Lūcija Garūta, as well as the first recordings of several previously unreleased compositions.
The album’s title song “Ābele” with lyrics by the poet Alfred Krūkis is one of the best-known choral songs by Lūcija Garūta, reflecting the stylistic essence of the composer’s choral music.
The album was recorded in July 2022 and April 2023 at Riga St. John’s Church, in collaboration with sound director Agnese Streļča , SigMa Studio.
Photos: Lūcija Garūta Foundation, Jānis Deinats
Annotation of the album by Kristiāna Vaickovska
Translation: Amanda Zaeska
Design: Gundega Kalendra, Raugs.eu
Executive producer: Egīls Šēfers
From November 3, the album will be available both in CD format in 80 countries of the world and digitally on the most popular music streaming and download platforms!
