On October 1 in Liepāja and a day later in Tukums together with Liepāja Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Atvars Lakstīgala the pianist will play Vestards Šimkus, playing their music – The first concert for piano and string orchestra and the opus “Gate of Destiny”. But already now we are meeting with Vestards in “Klasikas” studio.
Liene Jakovļeva: Liepāja and Tukums – two stops this week, when you, Vestard, will play with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and conductor Atvars Lakstīgals. These will definitely be special concerts, because you will be not only a pianist, but also a musician – in this program, in addition to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, there are also two of your works. In addition, these opuses will be immortalized before the concerts.
Vestards Šimkus: Yes,
We decided to make the rehearsal process more useful than usual and record it – that is, during the rehearsal we will try to play it all better and smoother, and in the end we will have a record left for these compositions.
I am very happy about it, because such a high-quality, studio-recorded recording of these two works has not been done so far. There are several concert recordings, but I will really be glad that it will finally be recorded in the best possible sound quality. in wonderful conditions in the concert hall “Big Amber”.
We are now talking about your First Piano Concerto, dedicated to the “awkward man”, and also about the opus “Gate of Destiny”. You’re really right. The archives of “Klasika” also contain the premieres of both of these works in concert recordings. So this will be a return to music you wrote earlier. What is it like, Vestard – now with a different experience, with today’s view to look at what was once written, once experienced and survived? Is that so Already seen feeling? Is there anything that surprises you when you look at yourself?
It is always very pleasant to return to the music you have written yourself. We in general
Today we live in the age of premiere, when new works are constantly ordered through various projects, which are most often performed once – in their premiere. In order to get some funding for the next project, it is necessary to record in this project that there will be a new job again.
It is of course very nice to have new music. However, it is even nicer to return to the already created music and play it again and again, so I am really glad that the idea of playing these two compositions in one concert together with the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra came to both of us and Atvars Lakstīgals a long time ago – three years ago, and it will finally come true.
Looking back at these compositions, I can say that the compositions themselves have not changed – the notes are the same.
I create my music to capture the feelings I experience as I walk through the woods near my house and watch the sun or moonlight shine on this or that landscape.
Therefore, these compositions are an opportunity to return to these moments, to these feelings. I myself may change, and of course we all change over time, but these compositions are more like pages of a diary, which I can re-read and return to at moments that are especially important to me. In moments that are important to me personally. Of course, even in these moments I have come to think of something even more timely and general than individual moments. Then the reflections that come with these feelings of the moment are the basis of these compositions.
More and more – in the record.
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