"Music in Latvia 2009" published by the Latvian Music Information Centre

Mariss Jansons, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Elina Garanca, and Andris Nelsons.  What does this handful of musicians have in common?  Three things: they are artists of international renown, they were born in Riga, and the foundation of their musical education was laid right here in the Latvian capital. 

Is Riga a great springboard for an international career?  Without a doubt.  But this time, the city has inspired us to write about those musicians working diligently here at home, like Sinfonietta Riga, the RIX Piano quartet, Schola Cantorum Riga, the Riga Saxophone Quartet, and the Riga Youth Choir KAMER....  The centenarian Adolfs Skulte, whose cantata Riga appeared back in the nineteen-fifties, and the thirty-year-old composer Santa Ratniece, who seeks and finds inspiration far beyond Latvian borders, are also featured in this issue.

The supplementary CD includes music by Adolfs Skulte, Santa Ratniece, Peteris Vasks, Eriks Ešenvalds, Rihards Dubra, performed by Sinfonietta Riga, the Riga Saxophone Quartet, the Rix Piano Quartet, the Riga Youth Choir KAMER…, the Latvian Radio choir.

Music: 

Santa Ratniece. "Saline" (fragment). Performed by the Latvian Radio Choir