Anniversary Concert – Pēteris Vasks

Celebrating the composer’s 80th birthday with a unique concert of his works in his hometown Aizpute.

To mark the 80th birthday of Pēteris Vasks, Sinfonietta Rīga and the Grammy Award-winning Latvian Radio Choir join forces under their long-standing chief conductor Sigvards Kļava for a remarkable concert in St. John’s Church in Aizpute, the composer’s hometown. On this special day, the programme is dedicated exclusively to Vasks’ music, offering a profound insight into his artistic voice.

Renowned for its versatility, the Latvian Radio Choir spans repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary works and is celebrated as a “sound laboratory” for modern music. Sinfonietta Rīga, founded in 2006, brings together musicians trained in Latvia and the Baltic States with young musicians from Western Europe, championing both classical and contemporary Latvian repertoire.

Born on 16 April in 1946 in Aizpute, Vasks began as a double bassist before turning to composition. The experience of lack of freedom in the Soviet Union is still present in his work today. He also often deals with nature, but without creating romanticised idylls. Rather, he is concerned with the mutual influence of humans and nature and the threat of ecological apocalypse.

Sigvards Kļava, conductor
Sinfonietta Rīga
Latvian Radio Choir

Pēteris Vasks
Sava tauta
The Fruit of Silence
Cosa devo fare
Agnus Dei
Musica Serena
Da Pacem Domine
Actus Caritatis
Mein Herr und mein Gott

Live on ARTE Concert
April 16, 2026 | 6.00 pm
St. John’s Church, Aizpute

A 4K HDR Production of Accentus Music
In Co-production with LTV and MDR
In Cooperation with ARTE