Raimonds Pauls, Agnese Egliņa, Pēteris Vasks / Article / LSM.lv

On Saturday, March 13, the ceremony of presenting the country’s highest music award – the Grand Music Prize – was held. The awards were presented in seven categories, while this year the composer Imants Kalniņš and conductor Aleksandrs Viļumanis were honored for their lifetime contribution.

IN SHORT:

• Conductor Aivis Greters received the “Young Artist of the Year” award.
• The prize “For creative, courageous and innovative artistic activity in the conditions of the Covid-19 crisis” was awarded to the musically performative adventure “While on the River”.
• Singer Aleksandrs Antonenko and pianist Reinis Zariņš received the award “For Outstanding Interpretation”.
• The title of “Concert of the Year” has been awarded to the concert of Elīna Garanča and pianist Malcolm Martino in the concert hall “Lielais dzintars”.
• Pianist and composer Raimonds Pauls received the Audience Award.
• The Sixth String Quartet of Peteris Vasks has been recognized as the “New Work of the Year” this year.
• Trumpeter Jānis Porietis received the award “For Outstanding Work in the Ensemble”.
• Two musicians – maestro Raimonds Pauls and pianist Agnese Egliņš – were honored with the award “For outstanding performance throughout the year”.
• Composer Imants Kalniņš and conductor Aleksandrs Viļumanis were praised for their lifetime contribution.

The remote ceremony from the Latvian National Opera and Ballet was conducted by conductor Ints Teterovskis and LTV journalist Eva Johansone. The ceremony was performed by the most outstanding Latvian musicians – also the nominees and laureates of the evening – the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian Radio Big Band, maestro Raimonds Pauls, organist Iveta Apkalna, tenor Aleksandrs Antonins, pianists Georgijs Osokins and Reinis Zariņš, violinist Kristīne Balanas and others.

Winners of the “Grand Music Awards 2020”

The young artist of the year

The first prize of the evening was presented by President Egils Levits, presenting the statuette to the young artist of the year – conductor, artistic director of the choir “While …” Aivis Greters.

In his speech, Levits emphasized: “Currently, both in the world and in Latvia, the heat and atmosphere of public discussions have reached a very high level. I would say such a bright crescendo.

Imagine how good it would be if we could put music on social media instead of furious comments.

This would not only give more musicality to the world, but also to human understanding and human interaction, because music unites people. Music gives strength, and music is what gives us an atmosphere so that we can communicate with each other. Music does not divide and differentiate people, but strengthens and unites them. Today, we are aware that musicians are the ones who give us strength, and we can say that our country has given a great deal to culture and music. I think our musicians are also the ones who help us at this special time. “

Nominating

• Violinist Daniils Bulajevs
• Conductor Aivis Greters
• Singer Beate Sweden

For creative, bold and innovative artistic activity in the conditions of Covid-19 crisis

Taking into account the situation in 2020, a new category of the Grand Music Award was created this year – “For creative, courageous and innovative artistic activity in the conditions of Covid-19 crisis”, and Liene Cipule, Director of the State Emergency Service, opened the winners’ ceremony. The prize in the new category was awarded to the musical performative adventure “Kamēr… river” organized by the Cēsis Art Festival, which was performed on the banks of the Gauja on July 25 by the choir “Kamēr…” placed on rafts.

Nominating

For an excellent interpretation

Ilze Aizsilniece, President of the Latvian Medical Association and General Practitioner, presented the award “For Outstanding Interpretation” with singer Aleksandrs Antonenko and pianist Reinis Zariņš for the performance of music by Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner at the closing concert of the Jurmala Festival on August 4 in Dzintari.

Nominating

Concert of the year

Conductor Mārtiņš Klišāns opened the recipient of the annual concert title at the ceremony this year. The prize was awarded to the concert of singer Elīna Garanča and pianist Malkolma Martino, which was performed on October 10 at the Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais dzintars”.

Nominating

Audience Award

The winner of the Delfi readers’ vote was announced and the award was presented by conductor Kaspars Ādamsons, the winner of the 2014 Audience Sympathy Award. Pianist and composer Raimonds Pauls won the audience’s sympathy in the vote, and he also received the award in the category “For outstanding performance throughout the year”.

New work of the year

In the jury’s assessment, the Sixth String Quartet of Pēteris Vasks was recognized as the new work of the year this year, which had its premiere on October 3 at the Dzintari Concert Hall performed by the string quartet Artemis. The award ceremony was presented by music teacher, composer Aivars Broks, who noted in his speech that without music teachers there would be no new works or the Grand Music Awards, and therefore called for the introduction of a new award category next year – “Music Teacher of the Year”.

Nominating

For outstanding work in the ensemble

Trumpeter Jānis Porietis was honored at the ceremony with the award “For Outstanding Work in the Ensemble”, presented by doctor Kārlis Rācenis.

Nominating

• Cellist Māra Botmane
• Trumpeter Jānis Porietis
• Vibrophone player Andrejs Pushkarevs

For outstanding performance all year round

This year, the jury decided to award two musicians in the category “For outstanding performance throughout the year”. The first prize was presented by the director of the cultural space “Hanzas perons” Ieva Irbina, and it was received by maestro Raimonds Pauls. Lotte Tisenhopfa-Iltnere, the head of Madara Cosmetics, presented the award to pianist Agnese Egliņa.

Nominating

• Pianist Agnese Egliņa
• Pianist and composer Raimonds Pauls
• Conductor Ainars Rubikis
• Pianist Reinis Zariņš

For a lifetime investment

At the end of the evening, the winners of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award were honored – composer Imants Kalnins a maestro Aleksandrs Viļumanis. The awards were presented by the Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis (National Association).

Daina Markova, the chairman of the jury, describes the composer Imants Kalniņš with the words “love composer”: “If we talk about a code of Latvian identity, then his music is one of the main keys of this code. And many of his works have become vivid symbols of his time and are still relevant today. For example, his opera “I Play, I Dance”, which was recently staged at the Latvian National Opera and has been performed digitally all over the world. Or, for example, Symphony No. 4, which once became almost a revolutionary event. Whether the music for the film “Blow, winds!”, Which always suggests again and again, or “Milk Road”, which always reminds of the most important thing, the happy land, the home. Love composer – Imants Kalnins. “

Conductor Aleksandrs Viļumanis is the creator of the history of our White House – he has twice been the chief conductor and artistic director of the National Opera. The contribution of the chairman of the jury Daina Markovs Vilumanis describes: “His creative dowry includes about 70 operas and 30 ballets, with which several generations of music lovers have grown up in live performances and sound recordings. Under the leadership of Maestro, our artists have visited Russia, France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Belgium, Mexico and elsewhere. Aleksandrs Viļumanis has carried the name of Latvia, successfully creating productions in opera houses in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Oslo, Tampere and elsewhere. For 20 years, he has also been the creator of the favorite Sigulda Opera Music Festival. ”

Grand Music Prize

The Grand Music Award (LMB) is the highest Latvian state award in music. In 1993, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, at the initiative of the then Minister of Culture Raimonds Pauls, decided to annually honor the most outstanding achievements in the life of our country’s music with a special award. LMB jury members attend concerts throughout the year and meet monthly. At the beginning of the year, the jury nominates LMB nominees for the previous year, which are announced at a special press conference of the Ministry of Culture, and only before the LMB presentation event, the jury votes on the winners.

The LMB event is organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and VSIA “Latvijas Koncerti”.

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