In 2005 Latvian symphonic music turned 125, and that was a significant reason and a welcome opportunity to declare that year the Year of Latvian Symphonic Music and to hold a concert on 11 December aimed at rallying musicians and the wider music-loving public towards a qualitatively new attitude to the local symphonic tradition, its present and its immediate prospects. It was in that very year, when we marked 125 years of Latvian symphonic music at the suggestion of the music historian Arnolds Klotiņš, that the idea of holding concerts of Latvian symphonic music was born.
Since then the tradition has been carried on with the Grand Concert of Latvian Symphonic Music, so that in time it might grow into an event of importance for the whole of Latvian cultural society and fill a significant gap in the overall picture of our culture. Today it can be said that the tradition of the Grand Concert of Latvian Symphonic Music has taken firm root in the orchestras’ concert season plans and that the concert has built up an audience of its own. On 20 January the Grand Concert of Latvian Symphonic Music will take place in the Great Guild for the eleventh time. The tradition continues – all the professional symphony orchestras take part, new works by Latvian composers are premiered and symphonic works by Latvian composers marking anniversaries are performed.
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
Kristaps Bergs, cello
Conductor Modestas Pitrėnas
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Atvars Lakstīgala
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Guntis Kuzma