The Ensemble The Music Education Considerable

MUSIKALISCHES SYMBOL VON

The Ensemble Latvian Voices is a female a cappella group from Riga, capitol of the “singing nation” Latvia. Almost all of the participants of the ensemble have graduated from Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and have degrees as choir conductors. All across Europe they have participated in workshops for choir conductors and singers, still are active members and leaders of their own choirs and ensembles in Latvia, and work as music teachers as well.

The Music Groups’ repertoire consists of compositions based on the most significant Latvian cultural heritage – folk songs. Folk music and its means of expression has inspired members of Latvian Voices to arrange folk tunes and compose their own original music especially for their voices a cappella in diverse characters and styles, blending intonations from classical, ethno and world music. Besides folk music Latvian Voices perform popular and world wide known classical melodies from vocal and instrumental music, transforming them into seven-voiced arrangements, as well as often surprise listeners with examples from pop and world music in the distinctive Latvian Voices’ manner.

Education Shortly after founding the ensemble in 2009, Latvian Voices took part in the first workshop with The King's Singers in Odense, Denmark, where they already left a deep impression on the British a cappella professionals. These here gathered knowledges the singers deepened in 2011, attending a further workshop with The Hilliard Ensemble in Riga, Latvia, and a master class with The King’s Singers in Lübeck, Germany.

Considerable Concert Tours Latvian Voices took part in numerous festivals and concert tours in Europe and worldwide: Usedom Musikfestival, Festival „VivaVoce“ in Treviso, a cappella festival Appenzell, choir festival Mantova, international choir festival „La Fabbrica del Canto“ in Legnano, music festival Winterthur, festival „Loches en Voix“, World Choir Games in Cincinnati, festival „Zoom+“ in Trnava, City of Derry International Choral Festival, a cappella festival in South Corea, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and many others, additional various concert tours in Denmark and Northern Germany, including annual Advent tours.

Outlook Latvian Voices have been chosen as musical ambassadors for the European Capital of Culture year 2014 in Riga, which for the ensemble in addition to the associated honor also results in a number of additional obligations on official occasions. In the summer of 2014 Latvian Voices as host will welcome choirs and vocal groups from all around the world to the World Choir Games 2014 in Riga. With the legendary The King's Singers from England, the singers will be on stage at the Latvian National Opera to premiére a new composition of the successful Latvian composer Eriks Ešenvalds specifically made for these ensembles. In November 2014, the new album Zeit der Wunder (Time of Miracles) will be released under the label of Universal Music, which Latvian Voices has recorded jointly with the German vocal band Viva Voce; producer of the new album is the well-known composer and songwriter Rolf Zuckowski, also from Germany.

Achievements A cappella 2011, Leipzig/Germany: 1st Prize at the A Cappella Arrangement Competition for Laura Jēkabsone and her arrangement of the Latvian folk song “Pūt, vējiņi” vokal.total.2011, Graz/Austria: 1st Prize (Ward Swingle Award) in the category “Classical Music” and Audience Favorite Award A CAPPELLA 2012, Leipzig/Germany: 1st Prize (A cappella Award) World Choir Games 2012, Cincinnati/USA: 1st Prize and gold medal in the category “Female Chamber Choir” and “Champions of the World Choir Games” At the beginning of 2013 the CD “Tā Kā Taka” was nominated for the “Latvian Music Recordings Award” as one of the five best albums. In the interpretation of the German a cappella ensemble amarcord, on 4th March 2014 the American “Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA)” nominated Laura Jēkabsone’s arrangement of the Latvian folk song “Pūt, vējiņi” for the “2014 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards” in the category “Best Folk/World Song”.

CD-Productions Waving World Wide (spring 2010) Compositions from Renaissance and classical music, besides newer Latvian works and evergreens Seventh Heaven (autumn 2010) German, Latvian and international Advent and Christmas songs Tā Kā Taka (autumn 2011) Latvian fok songs

Press commentaries (excerpts) Die Latvian Voices begeistern ihre Hörer mit wunderbaren Klängen, riesigem Stimmumfang und einem originellen Repertoire. Außerdem sind sie charmant und und eine echte Augenweide. Kurz gesagt: In Riga leuchten ein paar neue Sterne am A-cappella-Himmel. Marcus Stäbler in Hamburger Abendblatt (9. Dezember 2011) Beim letzten SHMF-Meisterkurs der King’s Singers 2011 waren sie die ganz große Entdeckung. Schon damals betörten die „Latvian Voices“ mit ihrem satten Klang, ihrem Stimmvolumen und einer ganz speziellen Ausstrahlung. … Nun kehren [sie] … zum SHMF zurück und singen vor ausverkauften Rängen. Marcus Stäbler im Hamburger Abendblatt (6. Juli 2013) Das Ganze war optisch, choreografisch – und gesanglich sowieso – derart gekonnt inszeniert und arrangiert, dass von Seiten des Publikums immer häufiger spontaner Applaus kam. Toni Dörig in Appenzeller Volksfreund (7. Mai 2012) Was für ein Auftritt! … „Latvian Voices” – eine vokalästhetische Offenbarung. … die Stimmen sind der reine Wohlklang. Joachim Pohl in Flensburger Nachrichten (19. Februar 2013) Mit … Begeisterung erleben die Zuhörer diese innige Gesangskunst und schlussendlich werden die Latvian Voices mit stehenden Ovationen bedacht. Heike Bronn in Leipziger Volkszeitung (3. Juni 2013) A clear audience favorite was Latvian Voices, seven women (with faux braids and stylized peasant dresses) whose tangy, exotic Baltic harmonies and flawless ensemble work shone in folk songs such as “Rutoj Saule” … Tom Huizenga in The Washington Post (30. Juni 2013) Am Tag zwei des Stockseer Festes … Bewegend lettisch starteten Gunars Upatnieks (Kontrabass) und Agnese Eglina (Klavier) mit Werken von Bottesini, Gliere, Strauss, Vasks. Und weil die Dramaturgie ebenso gut war wie das Wetter, kam mit den sieben Sängerinnen des A-capella-Ensembles

Latvian Voices das Beste am Schluss: Die musikstarke und vor allem singende Nation Lettland hatte sich eindrucksvoll präsentiert. Karina Lubowski in der SHZ (23. Juli 2013) „Zum Finale Sieben Schöne Stimmen“ … Um von „Engelsstimmen“ zu reden, ist die lettische Sprache vielleicht doch zu nordisch-herb. Aber es waren schon gehobene Sphären, in die die sieben jungen Damen von den „Latvian Voices“ die über 2000 Zuhörer in Stocksee zum Abschluss des SHMF-Musikfestes am Sonntagnachmittag führten. Lothar Hermann Kullack in den Lübecker Nachrichten (24. Juli 2013) Stimmvielfalt zum SH Musik Festival … Unter dem Titel „Grenzenlose Stimmvielfalt“ tritt Sonntag, 28. Juli, die A-cappella-Formation Latvian Voices auf. … Die Nachfrage nach Karten war enorm und sie sind inzwischen bei der Online-Kartenzentrale des SHMF ausverkauft. Ob noch wenige Karten an der Abendkasse zu erwerben sind, ist nicht sicher. Norddeutsche Rundschau (26. Juli 2013) Betörend: Latvian Voices und die Macht des Gesanges … Beate König in den Kieler Nachrichten (29. Juli 2013) Stimmen, die bezaubern können … Großartiges SHMF-Konzert der Latvian Voices in der ausverkauften Peter-Paul-Kirche Patrick Niemeier in den Stormaner Nachrichten (29. Juli 2013) Baltikum pur, Lettland Live … Latvian Voices bezauberten ausverkaufte Peter-Paul-Kirche beim SHMF Markt, Bad Oldesloe (31. Juli 2013) … and deserved applause through an eclectic mix of traditional and modern folk, laden with multiple octave singing, rippling tempos, ear-piercing vocal solos and human beat-boxing. “Gloria” and “Sanctus” are highly commendable; think Mozart's “Requiem” with a relaxing jazzy beat and Lakme's “Flower Duet” on top. But they save their best 'til the end, notably a spine-tingling rendition of “Danny Boy”, arranged by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, and a version of the U2 classic “I Still Haven't Found What I’m Looking For” … that ought to have even Bono eating his heart out. Simon Fallaha in Si's Sights And Sounds (26. Oktober 2013)