To Andrejs Žagars from Friends. VERDI REQUIEM

In the “To Andrejs Žagars from Friends” concert, which has become a tradition, we will hear “Requiem” by the great Italian opera genius Giuseppe Verdi – a monumental piece of sacred vocal and instrumental music into which the composer has poured all his talent as a genius melodist and master of dramaturgy of great musical forms.

Verdi’s Requiem is dedicated to the memory of Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873), an Italian poet and novelist, but it is more of a dramatic opus of timely reflection than a mirror of eternal light, providing the listener with unforgettable emotional moments.
In Cēsis, the opus will be performed by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, excellent soloists and the State Choir “Latvija”. Maestro Andris Poga at the conductor’s podium. Asmik Grigorian, a well-known Lithuanian soprano, will return to Latvia after a long absence. She has praised Andrejs Žagars, as a director, and the Latvian National Opera under his leadership, for their contributions to her international success.

Grigorian is currently performing in productions by Romeo Castellucci, Krzysztof Warlikowski, Robert Wilson, Barrie Kosky, and Claus Guth at the world’s most prestigious opera houses and festivals, including Covent Garden Royal Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Vienna State Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, La Scala and Salzburg Festival. Asmik collaborates with leading conductors Zubin Mehta, Vasily Petrenko, Franz Welser-Möst, Vladimir Jurowski, Markus Stenz, Alan Gilbert, and Michael Tilson-Thomas. The concert will also feature Zanda Švēde, a Latvian mezzo-soprano recognised worldwide as one of the best interpreters of the role of Carmen. Zanda has performed in leading opera houses and concert halls across America and Europe, and is currently a soloist at the Frankfurt Opera. In the tenor part of Verdi’s Requiem, we will hear the great Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov, who has performed in major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Teatro Real Madrid and Bavarian State Opera. He has appeared in concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons.

Edgars Ošleja, winner of the Great Music Award 2021 in the category “Young Singer of the Year”, will perform the bass part in Cēsis. Along with the soloists, the State Choir “Latvija”, regarded as one of the best interpreters of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem”, often takes part in performances of this opus in concert halls throughout Europe and the world, together with leading orchestras and conductors. The concert “To Andrejs Žagars from Friends” is held for the fifth time and is organised by the “Andrejs Žagars Foundation for Culture” in collaboration with the Concert Hall “Cēsis” and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.