The fourth festival «Latvian Voices a capella» has been performed in Valmiera / Article / LSM.lv

The 4th festival took place in Valmiera on Saturday “Latvian Voices a capella”. Due to the pandemic, it only took place for one day, offering both master classes that everyone could watch as well. Facebook live and in concert. The group “Latvian Voices” performed together with the bassist of the world-popular Swedish group “The Real Group” Jānis Strazdiņš. –

During four years, the festival “Latvian Voices a capella” has been attended by many domestic and foreign vocal groups. An essential part of the festival is master classes. The goal of the group “Latvian Voices” is to transfer their experience gained in the world, thus promoting the development of Western traditions in the singing culture of our vocal ensembles.

According to the composer, Laura Jēkabsone, the artistic director of “Latvian Voices”, in addition to technical exercises, the emphasis in this festival is on cultivating the relationships between a capella singers as a promoter of creativity.

It is the maintenance of mutual relations that is very important for the famous Swedish group “The Real Group”, where bass Jānis Strazdiņš has been singing for five years. The master classes he created together with the singers of “Latvian Voices” became a process of mutual interaction, in which they learned and were inspired by each other. Jānis Strazdiņš admitted that each singer is also the greatest critic for himself, therefore it is important to get encouragement and be aware of one’s potential in master classes.

In turn, singers Evija Spalva and Guna Agruma of the women’s ensemble “Guns” pointed out that master classes break down the boundary that prevails in the traditions of Latvian vocal ensembles, thus providing greater opportunities for creative freedom and self-expression.

The culmination of the festival was the concert of “Latvian Voices” and Jānis Strazdiņš at the Mill Lake in Valmiera. In it, listeners could enjoy the power of a community of a capella musicians.

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