World premieres of composer Tālivalža Ķeniņš ‘compositions released on the album / Article / LSM.lv

An album with three compositions by Tālivalža Ķēniņš, which have not been recorded and released so far, has been released, the representatives of the national record company “SKANI” informed.

“We would never have had a composer like Tālivaldis Ķeniņš if he had remained in Latvia after the Second World War. Paris is what sets him apart from other composers of the time, and we can hear this highest temper in each of his scores – even those included on this disc, ”said music reviewer Orest Silabriedis.

The new album has been recorded by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Andris Poga. It includes: Concerto for five percussionists and orchestra (soloists – Mikus Bāliņš, Elvijs Endelis, Elīna Endzele, Guntars Freibergs and Ernests Mediņš); Violin concert (solo – Eva Bindere), as well as a composition “Beatae voces tenebrae” for symphony orchestra.

Although born in Latvia, Tālivaldis Ķeniņš is also considered his composer in Canada. After studying composition at the Latvian Conservatory under Jāzeps Vītols, at the end of the Second World War, Ķeniņš went to Paris. There he continued his musical education at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, which has always been his long-awaited dream. He later emigrated to Canada, where he became one of the most prominent composers, educators and musicians. Former professor at the University of Toronto and president of the Canadian Composers’ League. He founded the Toronto Latvian Concert Association and, until Latvia regained its independence in 1991, was one of the first exile composers to work actively to restore cultural ties with the homeland. In 1995, Tālivaldis Ķeniņš was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of the Three Stars, and in 2005 the composer received the Grand Music Award for Lifetime Achievement.

As noted by the recording in the company “SKANI”, the range of genres and compositions represented in the works of the composer Tālivalža Ķeniņš (1919–2008) is very wide, but the number of works immortalized in the recordings is relatively small.

Recordings of three symphonic works released on the new album this summer with the support of the Ministry of Culture from state funds for unforeseen events.

This is the 46th album that SKANI has released since its launch in 2014.

–