In the concert program “Orthodox Christmas. Tchaikovsky’s Liturgy “brought to light the legacy of Peter Tchaikovsky’s sacred music and Byzantine songs, chanting the new concert accompanied by uplifting and soulful choral music.
The program brought together seemingly different but complementary worlds of sacred music. “The Liepaja concert program is designed as a dialogue between Peter Tchaikovsky’s liturgical musical monument and Andrejs Selickis’ Byzantine songs, which will be a conversation between two worlds about the same miracle, about the same event,” introduced Latvian Radio Choir conductor Sigvards Klava before the concert.
In commemoration of the Orthodox Christmas, the monumental opus of the Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky was performed in the interpretation of conductor Sigvard Kļava and in the crystal clear voices of the Latvian Radio Choir. Liturgy of Jānis Zeltamute ”, which was permeated by Byzantine spiritual songs in Latvian by the regent and composer of the Latvian Orthodox Church Andrejs Selicks.
The selected compositions performed by the Latvian Radio Choir were included in the synergy of different compositions. The audience got acquainted with the liturgical work and Byzantine songs of the Russian composer by hearing the strong voices of the Latvian Radio Choir and the parts of the choir soloist – baritone Gundars Deeps and tenor Kārlis Rūtentāls, performing the deacon and Iveria in Tchaikovsky’s liturgy.
The author of the program idea, Sigvards Kļava, is the artistic director and chief conductor of the Latvian Radio Choir. His projects are carefully crafted messages that took the audience on an exploratory and emotional journey toward Orthodox prayers and chants in this program. At the end of the evening, the hall was filled with cordial standing, followed by a touching addition of sacred music.
Its monumental St. The liturgy of Jānis Zeltamutes was written by Pēteris Tchaikovsky in 1878. This opus was recorded by the Latvian Radio Choir in 2019, becoming one of the very first European ensembles to touch on Tchaikovsky’s version of the musical liturgy. The choir has received public and critical acclaim for this recording, as well as in the prestigious International Classical Music Award (ICMA) 2020 choir music recording category.
