Peteris Vasks: Cantus ad Pacem an Organist's Heaven of Authenticity
The availability of the work of Peteris Vasks has certainly profited from his affiliation with Wergo. Some months ago, the German label opened the sonic floodgates for a steady stream of releases, all highlighting different facets of his oeuvre. On „Cantus ad Pacem“, Vasks again deals with sacral and spiritual issues, which have both consciously and unconsciously occupied his mind and music for his entire career, this time approaching them from an organist's perspective: The album collects three Organ originals as well as two transcriptions of orchestral pieces. From the latter department, „Viatore“ has already been recorded for a different Wergo-set by Normunds Sne and the Sinfonietta Riga on a previous occasion, allowing for various comparisons and new insights. As with the Sinfonietta Riga-albums, the production was realised with local musicians to stay as true to the soul and spirit of the compositions as possible: Except for the twelve-minute „Te Deum“, which closes „Cantus ad Pacem“, all tracks were recorded on the massive Organ of the Cathedral of Riga, right in the heartland of Peteris Vasks.
Manning the decks (approaching pun unintended) on „Cantus ad Pacem“ is Peteris Vasks' compatriot of Talivaldis Deksnis. Born in 1946, Deksnis has developed into an active asset of the scene over the years, teaching, performing and recording wherever the chance presents itself. A veritable jack of all trades, his programs have been traditionally diverse and colourful, yet special attention has always gone out to contemporary repertoire and the music of Latvia. By interpreting the music of Peteris Vasks, he has seized a unique chance of combining both these factors on a single disc.
The release of „Cantus ad Pacem“ can be regarded as a natural acme of Deksnis' fascination for the Organ segment of Peteris Vasks' body of work. Over the past two decades, he has repeatedly performed it in public, many of these concerts including world premieres. The fact that Talivaldis Deksnis has been principal organist of the Cathedral of Riga of course awards further authenticity to the album.
Homepage: Wergo Records
Item tags
Classical, Contemporary Composition, Latvia, News, Organ, Peteris Vasks, Talivaldis Deksnis, Wergo Records,Partner sites
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