Sunday, Dec. 6, at 19.00 The outstanding British organist will perform without spectators in Ventspils Concert Hall “Latvija” James McCowney (James McVinnie), premiered by the composer Niko Mjūlija (Nico Muhly) from the “Birth Cycle” created specifically for this concert. The artistic director of the concert hall invites him to an online concert Why Poppy.
The common background with Niko Mjūlija and James McVienna in Ventspils goes back more than ten years. At that time, in the spring of 2010, Niko Mjūlijs visited Latvia, the theater house “Jūras vārti”, for the first and so far only time together with his colleagues Ben Frost, Valgir Sigurdson and Sam Emidon. In 2016, James McCowney, performing in Ventspils, introduced the audience for the first time to organ music created by Niko Mjūlija, which was included in the album “Cycles” released in 2013. A few months ago, at the end of August, N. Mjūlija’s opuses for the organ were interpreted by Aigars Reinis together with Guntars Freiberga (marimba) and Pēteris Trasunas (viola) within the framework of the LNSO festival “Summer House”. Well, the dice are falling so that on December 6, James McCowney returns to Ventspils, Niko Mülulis’ organ music returns, the concert is broadcast live from the hall without spectators, but Niko’s compositions from the “Birth Cycle” created especially for this concert and James are world premiere. In addition to the premiere in Ventspils, the organ opuses by JS Bach, Marseille Dipre, Franz Lista and Sufjan Stevens will be performed. The concert will be conducted by Edgars Raginskis.
James McCowney is an internationally known and recognized organist both as a solo artist and a regular participant in various notable new music projects. His musical and human openness has allowed his creative paths to intersect with a number of contemporary composers, producers and performers. Not only Niko Mooley, but also Tom Genkinson or Squarepusher, Arcade Fire member Richard Reed Perry, David Lang, Bree Desner of The National and others have created compositions especially for McCowney.
From 2008 to 2011 and after studying music at the University of Cambridge, James McCowney was an assistant organist at Westminster Abbey, playing both daily sacraments and conducting the abbey choir. The musician experienced his first solo concert at the age of 26, performing at the Salzburg Festival with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra conducted by Ivor Bolton. Since then, participation in countless choral and vocal recording sessions and European festival programs has been (until recently, in the world) James’ everyday life. Since his previous visit to Ventspils, James McCowney has premiered Philip Glass’s 12th Symphony “Lodger” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the London Contemporary Orchestra.
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