The premiere of Imants Kalnins’ opera was celebrated in Liepaja / Article

The concert performance is created by the creative team of the music and drama space “OratoriO” led by Rēzija Kalniņa and Ainars Rubikis. The emotional and technically complex musical scores of Imants Kalniņš are performed by the musicians of the Sinfonietta Rīga Orchestra, the Ave Sol Chamber Choir and the soloists of the National Opera.

“Together with the soloists, we opened ourselves up during many rehearsals, starting to try and encounter the traditional gestures of the opera, but we went for their psychological, inner minimalism,” said the director of the production Rēzija Kalniņa.

Opera singer Viktorija Pakalniece said about the work: “I was surprised that this music has not only very characteristic things, various characteristic harmonies or rhythmic drawings,

but there are also some completely new and unheard-of details that I think will surprise those who like Imants Kalniņš’s music and those who may not be so familiar. “

Alexander Chuck’s dramatic poem, which tells the story of a historical episode of the 17th century, in which the main character Matiss is in conflict with the whole world and seeks his place and love in it, has turned into a monumental opus about Riga in Imants Kalnins’ vision.

Visitor of the show, composer Juris Vaivods, said: “I like the aesthetics of this song by Imants Kalniņš, which he has used in this opera, because I think it is the right key to unlock Alexander Chuck and his poetry. It is the romance of the city or the aesthetics of songs and it seemed very touching and sweet to me. “

Unfortunately, the composer himself was not present at the premiere of his work, but he did not hide his attitude about the desire to highlight this work to the family.

The premiere of the opera “Matīss, Cup Bajārs” in the Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais dzintars” was filmed with public applause. But it is currently unknown whether this performance will ever be shown on other Latvian stages.

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