Riga Dome Choir from the USA together with the choir “Sōla” of the Academy of Culture premiered the work of Ēriks Ešenvalds / Article

After a long time, the Riga Dome Cathedral has hosted a large group of singers from across the ocean. The Iowa State University Choir, Brigham Young University and Texas Women’s University Choir, as well as local singers from the Sella Choir, provided a rich concert program.

Kevin Meidl, a spokesman for the festival’s organizers from the United States, is convinced: We believe that the mission of “Festivals Of Three” is to increase peace. “

Kaspars Ādamsons, the artistic director and conductor of the LCA mixed choir “Sōla”, does not hide: Maybe a big event like the Sacred Music Concert of the previous Song Festival came to mind, but if we think about the composition of international singers as it was here tonight, then, in my opinion, it does not happen so often in Latvia and especially here , Riga Dome, where we can meet such high-quality singers and really from different parts of the world. “

Eric Aspenwald expresses satisfaction with the collaboration with the choirs: “I am very happy that these young Americans who are studying … Yes, some are studying music, but some are also studying anthology, psychology, languages, business, which they do not study. these wise minds, this new generation, they meet in these three collectives in Latvia, in our beautiful Thought, and there is already an additional, mystical dimension that cannot be predicted in the notes: Yes, they sing, they listen to each other, and I In the vaults of these churches, the music goes on and on, and I’m glad they experienced the unknown, unpredictable acoustics of the Riga Dome Cathedral. “

The creators of the festival point out that in the future concerts will continue to be organized in countries where the choir movement is so developed, which has also influenced historical events. They also plan to return to Latvia and Estonia next year. Kevin Meidl says, “We’re excited to visit places where there are similar communities or even the same people we’ve already worked with to continue to raise that awareness through music. As well as the fact that we are all part of this planet and us “We have to work together, live together and most importantly – sing together. It unites us.”

During the concert, the latest work of the composer Erik Eschenwald was performed, which tells how different the rain can be. “I chose to compose a cycle of three songs on the theme of rain, how different it can be to rain, how playful it can be and to go into the night. about something very gentle, and another song again dresses it in drama, “says the composer.

Conductor Richard Bjell from the United States admits: “Eschenwald uses a language of harmony as well as a melodic language that makes you feel like you’ve heard the sound all your life. It’s a new, fresh and enjoyable work that incorporates poetic metaphors with many secrets. There is a real synthesis between the composition and the poetry used in it.

The conductor of the choir “Sōla” also admits that Ešenvalds has proved that he can feel the texture of the choir, the sound of the choir.

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