Vestards ŠIMKUS – piano
Conductor Emilia HOVING
Programme:
Vítězslava KAPRÁLOVÁ Suita Rustica
Bohuslav MARTINŮ Piano Concerto no. 3
Sergei PROKOFIEV Cinderella Suite
In this concert, we will experience several new encounters. In the first half of the 20th century, Czech composer Vítězslava Kaprálová emerges in the academic music scene like a shooting star, making an early name for herself in both composition and conducting. Sadly and tragically, her life is cut short, and she leaves this world before fully realising her remarkable potential. This will be the first time her Suita Rustica is performed on a Latvian stage. Another composer whose oeuvre has remained relatively unknown to us is Bohuslav Martinů, Kapralova’s teacher. His Third Piano Concerto exudes a very neo-classical yet authentic character, evident in its splendid harmonic language and playful instrumentation, with the solo performed by pianist Vestards Šimkus. To conclude the evening, we return to the familiar melodies by Sergei Prokofiev for the ballet Cinderella. At the conductor’s podium – another new encounter – Finnish conductor Emilia Hoving.
The concert is financially supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.