The opening of the 21st concert season marks a new era for Sinfonietta Rīga, as Olari Elts takes over as the artistic director of the orchestra. The Estonian maestro is well recognized by Latvian audiences – he established an electrifying rapport with Sinfonietta musicians already in 2019 and has chosen to ring in his return to Latvian musical scene and his new status under the sign of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Our lives today are throbbing with the rhythm of changes, not unlike that of the Viennese genius more than two centuries ago who spent his years in a whirlwind of existential queries. And perhaps exactly these conditions created a rich soil for the revolutionary beliefs of this deep thinker and passionate visionary, bursting open the norms of his era. Beethoven's ideas have left a deep imprint on all following generations as evidenced by the contemporary authors' dedications to him, included in the season opening concert's programme. Among them are the dynamic subito con forza by acclaimed South-Korean composer Unsuk Chin and Erkki-Sven Tüür's ghostly nod to Coriolan, Phantasma, based on the suggestion by his compatriot and close friend Elts. Finally, the tale of battle and victory over darkness, Beethoven's Fifth, so-called Fate Symphony, relates to our own Pēteris Vasks's violin concerto Distant Light with the thoughtful and attentive Finnish violinist Elina Vähälä as soloist.
Programme
Erkki-Sven Tüür Phantasma
Pēteris Vasks Concerto No. 1 for Violin and String Orchestra Distant Light
Unsuk Chin Subito con forza
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Participants
Elina Vähälä /violin/
Sinfonietta Rīga
Conductor Olari Elts
