spinozzi Leads LNSO in Centennial Season Opener: A โฃJourney Thru Baroque Splendor and faurรฉ’s Hopeful Requiem
The โLatvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) welcomes renowned French conductor Jean-Christophe Spinozzi โfor his Latvian debut in two performances: September 26th at the Riga Congress House and September 27th at the Ventspils concert hall “Latvija.” Spinozzi, celebrated for his interpretations of โBaroque and Classical music and his leadership โof theโ ensemble Matheus, promises a dynamic and emotionally resonant experience for audiences.
The program, titled “LNSO, Wax, Golden Baroque andโ Faurรฉ’s โขRequiem,” charts โa course through centuries ofโ musical expression. The concert will open wiht “Cantabile” (1979) for strings by Latvian composer โPฤters Vasks, a workโ embodying philosophical reflection and a search for harmony.
Listeners will โthen beโ transported to โthe Baroque era with Antonio โVivaldi‘s “Sit nomen โคDomini” from “Laudate pueri,” featuring the soaring vocalsโฃ of Frenchโ sopranoโ Nina Spinozzi. The first half concludes with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto for โHarpsichord and Orchestra in D โขminor, BWV 1052, โperformed with Latvian harpsichordist Ieva โSaliete, a Grand music Prize winner known for her collaborations with European early music ensembles.
The second half of the โconcert will be dedicated to Gabriel Faurรฉ’s โRequiem, a โwork distinguished by its hopeful and โpeaceful portrayal of eternity, rather than traditional mourning. Norwegian baritone Halvors Meliens will join the LNSO and the state Academic Choir “Latvija” in this powerfulโ performance. โspinozzi himself describes the requiem as “very true and profound,” likening it to “a moment of truth, just like crossing the valley of death.”
Spinozzi, โwho began his conducting career in โฃ1991, is known for โhis energetic style and ability to โฃinspire deep emotional connectionโข within his โmusicians andโ for his โขaudiences, believing music offers “divine light โคthat can bring peaceโค and inspiration.”