RIGA, Latvia - A new Christmas duet featuring opera singer Brigita Reisone and actor Raimonds Celms, set to music by composer Jānis Lūsēns with lyrics by Viļis plūdonis, has been released ahead of a series of upcoming concerts.
The song, “Krīt parslas, krīt,” is central to the “Moments before light” Christmas concert program, envisioned by Lūsēns as a continuation of his earlier successful concert series “Mazu sukun pre” featuring Kristīne Zadovska and Ingus Pētersons, which played over one hundred performances. Lūsēns noted the time has come for a new generation of performers, having recently collaborated with Celms on the revival of the rock opera “Kaupēn, mans mählaiis.” He selected Celms for his masculine voice and current vocal studies at the Latvian Academy of Music, pairing him with Reisone for a complementary blend of vocal timbres – her shining soprano and feminine stage presence.
“The newly created song dose not so much reflect the vocal mastery of the two soloists, but the inner intelligence, sensitivity and warmth, which is so much expected at the time when we are preparing for the quietest holiday of the year; a holiday in which we remember the most stunning dreams and events of the year. Those that will remain in our memories forever,” Lūsēns stated.
The “Moments before light” concerts will feature Reisone (soprano), Celms (tenor), Jānis Lūsēns sen. (keyboards), Evija Mundeciema (flutes, bells), Jānis Lūsēns jun. (bass, guitar) and Uģis Upenieks (percussion). The first performance is scheduled for December 8 at the cultural space “Ola Foundation,” with eight additional concerts planned in various locations.
