Two special live concerts by Latvian pianist Andrejs Osokins are coming soon. Listeners will be able to follow them not only in Latvia, but also elsewhere in the world.
Already this Saturday, March 27, at 19.00 (Riga time) Andrejs Osokins live piano concert “Parallels” will take place online. The concert is organised by the American Latvian Association (ALA) and is included in the ALA 70th anniversary event series. The pianist’s solo program will feature the surprising parallels between American and Latvian piano music in the 20th century.
After the concert, all spectators are invited to take part in a conversation with Andrejs Osokins, Director of ALA Office of Cultural Affairs Valda Grinberga and ALA Executive Director Marisa Gudrais, as well as Latvian composer Juris Karlsons. The discussion will be led by musicologist Liene Jakovļeva.
“In March last year, during the pandemic, our online concerts gained great popularity, gathering several thousand spectators in the United States and Canada. Spring awakens hope and love in our hearts, so I invite my compatriots in North America and across the ocean to put on a festive dress and enjoy this beautiful event,” says Valda Grinberga.
The live broadcast will be available on the Facebook pages of the American Latvian Association and Andrejs Osokins, as well as on the online platform “Zoom”, link here.
On April 19, at 18.00 Andrejs Osokins’ concert “Latvian piano music over the centuries” will be broadcast live from the Latvian Radio Studio 1. The concert and conversation with the pianist will be led by director of Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” and musicologist Gunda Vaivode.
The concert will feature works by three outstanding Latvian composers – Pēteris Vasks’ “A Little Night Music”, Imants Zemzars’ “Warsaw Triptych” and a very special event – the premiere of Aivars Kalejs’ piano pieces “Songs Without Words”. Andrejs Osokins will perform these compositions as a gift to the music lovers of these composers – all of whom have significant anniversaries in April. The concert will also feature piano works by Jāzeps Vītols, Ādolfs Skulte, Jānis Mediņš, Juris Karlsons, Emīls and Wolfgangs Dārziņš.
The concert will be broadcast live on LR3 “Klasika” and shown on the website. The recording of the concert will also be available in the LR3 “Klasika” archive and on the Latvian Radio YouTube channel. The concert is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.
“It is a great pleasure for me that Latvian Radio “Klasika” and the American Latvian Association in these difficult times give musicians the opportunity to play and listeners to hear excellent Latvian music. The programs of both concerts will be especially emotional, as I will play not only my favourite compositions but also brand-new piano works from my repertoire. I am very much looking forward to these concerts because such meetings are important for both – me and the audience. They give hope that the live concerts may return one day”, says Andrejs Osokins.
Both concerts will also feature Jāzeps Vītols’ Lullaby, performed by Andrejs Osokins.
