Both Béla Bartók and Bohuslav Martinů lived and worked in a war-torn Europe. They lived through two world wars, watched their native countries in different ways transform due to, and in response to, the threats and dangers of the world around them. Naturally, such experiences will have an impact on one’s artistic expression and this dramatic period can be sensed in both Bartók’s Music for Strings and Martinů’s Double Concerto. In the violin concerto, Distant Light, Pēteris Vasks depicts bitter-sweet childhood memories and tries to bestow calm comfort upon the world. 2018 is the centenary of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania becoming independent states and the concert bill spans all of the Baltic States.

Participants:

Mark Bouckov, violin

Sinfonietta Rīga

Tallinn Chamber Orchestra

Conductor Normunds Šnē

Programme:

Béla Bartók “Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta”

Bohuslav Martinů Double Concerto for Two String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani

Pēteris Vasks “Distant light”

Erkki-Sven Tüür "Lighthouse"