Pēteris Vasks - Songs of My Heart (Latvian Radio Choir; Sigvards Kļava)

Information

Composer: Pēteris Vasks

• Actus caritatis (2021)
• The Fruit of Silence (2013)
• Pater noster (1995)
• Angele Dei (2021)
• Love Songs (Mīlas dziesmas) (2013)
• Prayer (Lūgšana) (1961)
• First Grass (Pirmā zāle) (2025)
• Six Songs (Šesas dziesmas ar Kn. Skujenieka vārdiem)
• Our Mountains (Mūsu kalni) (2017)
• Within My Nation (Savā tautā) (1990)
• Fatherland (Tēvu zeme) (2018)

Latvian Radio Choir

Sigvards Kļava, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Ondine

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This commemorative recording marks the 80th birthday of Pēteris Vasks and features performances by the award-winning Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava. The album presents a selection of Vasks’ choral works spanning more than five decades, including world premiere recordings and his earliest surviving choral composition from 1961. Unified by themes of nature, silence, faith, and homeland, the music is characterized by its tonal clarity, slow-moving textures, and restrained expressive language. Despite long periods in which sacred music was restricted under Soviet rule, Vasks developed a distinctive choral voice that found strong support in Latvia, particularly through ensembles willing to champion his work. This release highlights the intimate, a cappella dimension of his output and reflects his enduring artistic legacy.

Sigvards Kļava (born 1962) is a leading Latvian conductor, professor of conducting, and producer, serving as music director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. Under his long-term artistic leadership, the choir has developed into an internationally recognized ensemble known for its distinctive vocal identity and the individual artistry of its singers. Kļava has played a key role in expanding the ensemble’s repertoire, including recordings of overlooked or forgotten composers as well as close collaborations with contemporary Latvian composers. He is also a professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and a multiple recipient of the Latvian Grand Music Award. His international career includes performances at major venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Berliner Philharmonie, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and the Lincoln Center.