In early April, in three completely sold-out concerts — two at the Great Guild and one at the “Latvija” Concert Hall in Ventspils — the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the State Choir “Latvija”, French soprano Perrine Madœuf, and mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde, under the direction of 23-year-old conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, gave audiences the opportunity to experience a performance of Gustav Mahler’s monumental Second Symphony. The program also included the prelude to Richard Wagner’s opera “Tristan und Isolde”.
The plot of German opera master Richard Wagner’s opera “Tristan und Isolde” is based on a medieval Celtic legend about the contradictory, tragic love between the knight Tristan and princess Isolde. This work is the composer’s most innovative legacy, while its prelude is one of the most iconic examples in music history. It centers on the revelation of the main characters’ inner feelings, a reflection on human longing.
Austrian composer Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony, “Resurrection,” is a monumental five-movement work for orchestra, choir, and soloists that seeks answers to metaphysical questions and contemplates the beauty of eternity. According to the composer, the first movement of the Second Symphony depicts the funeral procession of the main character from his First Symphony, “Titan,” whose death prompted him to turn to burning existential questions: “What is life and what is death? Will we continue to live in eternity? Do our life and death have meaning?” Here Mahler seeks answers in ideas postulated by Christianity, to which he repeatedly returns in the symphony’s fourth movement, and the affirmation of the eternal life of the spirit is achieved in the symphony’s expansive, grand finale. The Second Symphony premiered on 13 December 1895 in Berlin.
Latvian audiences have had the chance to get to know internationally acclaimed French opera singer Perrine Madœuf since 2019, when she made her debut in the Latvian National Opera’s production of Francis Poulenc’s opera “Dialogues des Carmélites,” with music critics praising her enchanting timbre, vocal control, and communication with the audience. Latvian mezzo-soprano and opera singer Zanda Švēde also took part in the concert. She is currently in her fifth season at the Frankfurt Opera. Zanda has sung countless opera roles, including, with great success, the legendary role of Carmen. She also regularly expands her concert repertoire.
Together with the soloists, under the direction of conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, LNSO and the Latvian State Academic Choir “Latvija” performed — the choir will celebrate its 85th anniversary in 2027. Since 1997, the choir’s artistic director and principal conductor has been Māris Sirmais.