The concert of the Latvian choir conductors gathered a full Cēsi concert hall. Conductors – choristers and the conductor’s console. Both the repertoire of the upcoming Song Festival and the songs chosen by the choristers themselves – this time the conductors – were played, the ones they want to sing together.
After each song, the audience did not skimp on applause, the choristers gave a resounding experience and joy again and again. It was a great opportunity for Cesis residents to hear the choir, whose singers – professional conductors – presented the program of the “Conductor” concert, which will be played during the Song Festival in Mežapark, Kokaru Hall, and tickets for which have already been sold. In the Cēsis concert hall, they were half cheaper than the cheapest concert in the Kokara hall. The choir was conducted by the well-known chief conductors of the Song Festival in Cesis, who once led choirs in Cesis – Sigvards Kļava, Mārtiņš Klišāns, Andris Veismanis – as well as Aira Birziņa, Ints Teterovskis, Kaspars Ādamsons.
The Latvian Choir of Choral Conductors performed for the first time at the 150th anniversary of Jāzep Vītola, then at the bicentenary of the Kokar brothers, but on the previous holiday, the closing concert began with the song “Esi sämäita, saule” by Alfred Kalniņš sung by this choir.
“Without choir conductors, the Song Festival would not be possible. The conductor not only teaches the choir to sing. He is an organizer, a team builder and mostly a good singer. We want to celebrate the profession, more than one conductor was and is also a composer. Their songs are played at the Song Festival. We can sing in the conductor’s choir. The big run to the Song Festival is over, of course, except for the choirs that will participate in the competition, we can get together and sing,” says Ints Teterovskis, the author of the idea and artistic director of the “Conductor” concert, and reminds that the Song Festival was born in Vidzeme, which is why Cēsis was chosen for the concert. Most of the singers of choir conductors are from the Midlands.
“When conductors get together to sing in their group, there is such a good, nerve-wracking atmosphere,” says Aira Birziņa, chief conductor of the Song Festival, and admits that colleagues as choristers have stricter requirements than the choirs they direct. The choir-conductors met in Cēsis and rehearsed for seven hours before the concert. Before that, everyone learned the songs individually. A. Birziņa adds that it would have been easier if everyone had more similar preparation. The choir conductors will meet again in the rehearsal of their choir before the concert at the Song Festival. Then choir conductors of foreign compatriots will also gather and the concert will be complemented by future colleagues – students of the Academy of Music.
“This concert is and will be an event for us. At the same time, we celebrate the conductor’s profession and look forward to the Song Festival,” says I. Teterovskis.
Among the singers of choir conductors, there are also leaders of the choirs of Cēsis region – Jaunpiebalga, Vecpiebalga, Taurene – Dzerbene, Zaubes, Straupe, Priekuļu, “Wenden”, “Beverīnas”, as well as music educators whose specialty is choir conductor.
“Singing in a conductor’s choir is a master class and should not be missed. The mood was wonderful, it was a pleasure to play music together,” says Iveta Lapiņa, the conductor of the Priekuļi Women’s Choir, while Solveiga Vītoliņa, the leader of the “Pie Gaujas” choir, emphasizes that the preparation for the concert and the concert was a beautiful meeting with colleagues.
The conductor of the youth choir of the Cēsi State Gymnasium, Ilga Škendere, reveals that she had not sung in the mixed choir for four years. “I was happy about the strong and sonorous voices around me, I was flying while singing,” said the conductor and revealed that she sang for the first time at the Song Festival 50 years ago. Sarma Bērziņa, the conductor of Rauna parish choir “Rauna”, emphasizes that there is satisfaction and joy after the concert. “In such a choir, you can fully experience the song, feel special, get a boost of energy and also, of course, experience how to work with a choir, teach how to sing the nuances,” says S. Bērziņa.
Four students of the Choir Conducting Department of Alfred Kalniņš Cēsi Music High School had the opportunity to participate in the concert in Cēsis. “I had to learn a lot by myself to learn the songs, then the long rehearsal, the concert – it feels like work done. And it is a great satisfaction to sing together with experienced colleagues and also to learn,” says future conductor Ulvis Krieviņš.
I. Teterovskis, while preparing the concert dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Song Festival, emphasizes that those who are choir conductors but work in other professions are also involved in it. The creative team of the concert “Conductor” is creating a video series of human stories, which will reflect what the conductor’s profession is and what important skills and benefits it opens up in other professions as well. Video messages are made by Mārtiņš Klišāns. The series of stories begins by introducing entrepreneur, producer and director Daci Pūci, head of the musical section of Daile Theater, composer and conductor Juri Vaivodas. Video stories can be seen on social media.
2023-05-29 00:01:44
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