Latvian Composers

Latvian classical music may have a relatively short history (it declared independence only in 1918), but it’s a rich one, full of variety and great beauty. This playlist is a chance to explore over a century of sounds, from the country’s first acknowledged composer Andrejs Jurjāns to today’s most celebrated Latvian voice, Pēteris Vasks. The Baltic country possesses a proud orchestral and instrumental heritage, represented by the likes of Volfgangs Dārziņš whose Rachmaninoff-inspired Piano Concerto No. 2 you can sample here. Dārziņš was the son of composer Emīls Dārziņš, whose Valse mélancolique has a distinctive Tchaikovskian flavor. Away from the Dārziņš family, there are plenty of Vasks’ atmospheric musical canvasses to discover, too—and much more besides. Latvia is also blessed with thousands of superb amateur choirs. These in turn have provided inspiration for homegrown composers. One of Latvia’s greatest choral champions is Ēriks Ešenvalds, whose ethereal works have become firm favorites the world over. Don’t miss, too, the mesmerizing soundworlds of Rihards Zaļupe and Raimonds Pauls.