On June 1 at 5:00 p.m., the Ola Foundation cultural venue will host a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the creative work of the University of Latvia women’s choir Balta, as well as the launch of the album Gaismas pieskāriens / A Touch of Light.
Choir Balta is a laureate of numerous international competitions and one of the best choirs in Latvia. It won the Grand Prix in the final of the Latvian Song Festival choir competition in 2013 and first place in 2023 and 2018. In the Interkultur World Ranking of women’s choirs, choir Balta currently ranks ninth. The choir was founded in 1999 by its artistic director and conductor, chief conductor of the Latvian Song Festival and professor at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Dr. paed. Māra Marnauza.
The album Gaismas pieskāriens features nine works by composer Andris Sējāns from the Nature Concert Hall, written especially for choir Balta . This is a completely different concert program for choir Balta, in which the choir singers themselves not only sing scores written for up to 12 voices, but also play various musical instruments - accordion, violin, viola, acoustic guitar, recorder, flute, bells, and various percussion instruments.
Conductor Māra Marnauza: “The new works are not only an original addition to the choral repertoire, but also an unusual, interesting, and musically beautiful program for both listeners and the choir singers themselves, perfectly suited to and enjoyable during the blossoming spring season.”
The album cover was designed by artist Dina Ābele, whose painting depicts a three-leaf clover symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The central theme of the music is nature - the earth, sky, sea, mountains, dew, wind, rain, plants, nature conservation, and ecology.
Recordings from the album Gaismas pieskāriens / A Touch of Light / Choir Balta are available on all music streaming platforms.
Admission to the June 1 concert is by invitation.
