Media Release 7 April 2015

Latvian Radio Choir to sing Rachmaninov Vespers for its debut at the National Concert Hall

Winners of the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance in 2014, the Latvian Radio Choir makes its National Concert Hall debut on Sunday 3rd May, 8pm as part of the NCH International Concert Series 14/15. This concert, which sees the multi-award winning choral ensemble perform extracts from Rachmaninov Vespers, Op 37 is also the main event in the Cultural Programme of Latvia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Ireland.

The programme for their concert includes Ligeti’s Lux aeterna, Anders Hillborg’s muo:aa;yiy;;oum, Bach/Nystedt Immortal Bach, Pēteris Vasks Zīles zina and Eriks Ēšenvalds Légende de la femme emmurée.

The Latvian Radio Choir has won many awards over the years including a prestigious Grammy for the Best Choral Performance for Arvö Part's Adam's Lament, along with the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, the ensemble Vox Clamantis, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. Among the choir’s most valued recordings is Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil which was praised by Gramophone magazine as the best recording in February 2013 and ranked as one of the 25 best albums of the year by American radio NPR.

The choir actively popularizes the music of Latvian composers around the world and they have been awarded the most esteemed musical prize in Latvia, the Latvian Music Grand Prix (seven times in total). In autumn 2014 the Latvian Radio Choir also received the Award of the Cabinet of Ministers – the highest official award for the outstanding contribution in Latvian music and achievements on the international stage.

Due to its fineness of expression and repertoire that ranges from renaissance to the present day, the Latvian Radio Choir has established itself as a leading contender on the concert circuit, over its 70 year career. This has led them to perform in the top international musical forums including Salzburg and Montpellier, White Light Festival USA and also many renowned concert halls around the world including Lincoln Centre in New York.

This concert is presented by the National Concert Hall in association with the Latvian Embassy as part of Latvia Day. The National Concert Hall’s International Concert Series 2014/2015 is supported by The Irish Times.

Latvian Radio Programme (Sunday 3rd May 2015, 8pm)
Rachmaninov Vespers Op.37 (extracts)
Bach/Nystedt Immortal Bach
Eriks Ešenvalds Légende de la femme emmurée
Anders Hillborg muo:aa:yiy::oum
Ligeti Lux aeterna
Pēteris Vasks Ziles zina

Prices: €40, €35, €30, €25 (€20 Choir Balcony)
NCH Box Office Tel: 01 417 00 00 or www.nch.ie
ENDS
For further information please contact: Ruth Moloney, Marketing Executive, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 0084 / 087 278 6382