The new season will be even more difficult. Emotions and reflections after the Great Music Award Ceremony / Article / LSM.lv

March 13 the Grand Music Award (LMB) ceremony was held. Among the laureates are well-known artists who mostly performed abroad before the pandemic. The representative of the jury Armands Znotins praises the high performance of the musicians in the times when the rehearsal process was limited and the concerts took place online, without public applause. Assessing the new season turns out to be even more complicated and challenging. –

Jury representative, musicologist, journalist, publicist Armands Znotins and conductor, composer, pedagogue Andris Vecumnieks share their thoughts after the LMB presentation on the Latvian Radio program “Kultūras Rondo”.

Asked how this year’s LMB ceremony is evaluated, Andris Vecumnieks reveals:

“The fact that the ceremony took place simultaneously in several rooms of the opera house made the event dynamic. Also, the lack of long speeches and self-affirmations allowed the ceremony, which usually lasted close to four hours, to be included in about two hours.

In my opinion, this event was amazingly laconic, amazingly meaningful and very dynamic. ” He adds that musicians need the LMB ceremony even in such times. At the same time, it is necessary to remind the public that the life of music (and other arts) is not dead.

Armands Znotins also has similar thoughts about the LMB ceremony. He watched with pleasure the work of the ceremony makers and leaders. Znotins continues:

“It was a real pleasure to see that LMB was taught by the President that this event is also relevant at the highest level.

In this laconic [ceremonijas] It was most nice to hear and get to know the Latvian Radio Big Band in person. ”

Commenting on the work of the jury, Znotins expresses satisfaction with the overall decision. Listening to and judging concerts while sitting at the computer was, of course, not a very pleasant experience. There is a significant lack of a lively link between performers and listeners. However, he emphasizes that the performance of musicians, whether in a virtual or real environment, remains as it is: “I can only express my admiration and praise to musicians who have worked honestly in these times and reached such musical peaks without feedback to the listener, without applause.” Concert programs, as every year, have been very different.

Vecumnieks also agrees with this year’s jury decisions. He highlights the fact that the awards have been received by very prominent personalities in the life of music, who mostly conduct their artistic activities abroad, but due to the pandemic have stayed more and performed at home – in Latvia.

It is also important for LMB to highlight young, lesser-known artists. The award can serve as a career springboard.

According to Andris Vecumnieks, the LMB jury of 2021 is facing even greater difficulties: “At the moment, I do not see any prospects when concert life could resume in person. At our next jury meeting, we will think very seriously about what nominations can be offered and what we then call digital concerts, which are live concerts and everything else. Let’s be realistic – I think that nothing will start again until the summer and God forbid that it will be possible to resume in the summer itself. [koncertus klātienē].

The jury has to find new evaluation criteria, parameters, because this season, in my opinion, will be even more difficult than the previous one.

Last year, the quiet season was from March to May, in the summer concert life resumed and it really only stopped in November. ”

Pandemic time constraints have a significant impact on the development of professional music groups. This has also been confirmed by the artistic director of the Latvian Radio Choir Sigvards Kļava. At present, attempts by professional teams are allowed. But Vecumnieks is especially concerned about the future musicians: “In all this situation, music education has suffered greatly, because practically a year of music schools, music high schools, the Academy of Music cannot realize a full-fledged educational process. These are not theoretical lessons that are hampered by distance learning, but not catastrophically. However, the impossibility of meeting in person to receive a full-fledged professional specialization is catastrophic. A good musician – these are not just the right notes, they are a lot of other qualities, parameters that are impossible to learn without working in person. It’s the last moment to start thinking about it and find a solution. ” Armands Znotins fully agrees with this opinion.

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