On October Sundays, the new Karosta Chamber Hall will welcome excellent soloists from Italy and Lithuania to perform alongside local artists. Meanwhile, the first season’s academic music concert series “Karosta Autumn Sounds” will close on Saturday. All three chamber ensembles have many years of concert experience and they are determined to add a touch of original music colour to the compact concert hall.
From the outside, the Karosta Chamber Hall at 1 Pulkveža Brieža Street appears as a large but modest two-storey building, nestled in the lime trees, but inside it greets audiences with an elite late 19th century interior and excellent, sophisticated acoustics. The 50-seat hall gives you a special, intangible sense of presence at every concert, being so close to the musicians. Two chamber ensembles have already experienced their “Karostas noSkaņas” (Karosta Autumn Sounds), and three more vibrant concerts are expected this autumn.
On Sunday, 8 October at 15.00, we look forward to welcoming an unusual duo – harp and viola, who have just arrived from Italy. The Latvian harpist, Darta Tisenkopfa-Muselli, is a member of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, who is currently studying in Italy, while the Italian violist, Giulia Arnaboldi, is the viola concertmaster of La Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini in Italy. The two began performing together 8 years ago during their studies at the Parma Conservatory, which they graduated with distinction, winning laurels together in various international competitions.
The ethereal and fragile harp and the robust and tame-sounding viola are an extraordinary combination, with a distinctive saturated timbre. The concert programme features original music, a rare combination for such instruments. The repertoire includes works by the French-Venezuelan composer Reynaldo Hahn and excerpts from the Fantasy Sonata by the British composer Arnold Bax. Also, we will hear a viola solo from the Italian composer David Cavatorta’s 2020 work “The Travelling Viola”, while Fermo Bellini’s Nocturne Op.12 will capture the Italian flair.
On 22 October, at 13.00, we will hear the musicians who meet from time to time, in trios and in various other ensembles. They are spouses - a Latvian Gunta Gelgote, guest soloist in coloratura soprano roles at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and a Lithuanian Giedrius Gelgotas, Lithuanian, flutist with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, as well as pianist Aija Kuzmane.
Gunta’s soprano is often referred to as the subtle and clear voice of an angel. No wonder why it is the subject of various original works. For this concert, the trio have chosen music composed for them by Latvian composers – Renāte Stivriņa’s vocal cycle “Echoes” with lyrics by Latvian poets, premiered in August, Laura Dubina’s piece “Grand Palais” and Georgs Pelēcis’ vocal cycle “About Love” with lyrics from the Solomon’s Song in Latvian, a piece of love, longing and passion. What also makes this concert special is that it will be given by the family of the owner of the concert hall.
The closing concert of the series, which will take place on Saturday, 4 November at 15.00 to coincide with the national holiday month, will feature the clarinet quartet “Quattro Differente” from the National Armed Forces Staff Orchestra in a concert entitled "Voice". Featuring works of different Baltic composers, this programme will make you think about the nature of the voice and how it can sound, while giving you the opportunity to find your own answers to this question.
“Quattro Differente” is the longest standing ensemble of the NAF Staff Orchestra and has participated in countless events in Latvia and abroad. Its contribution to Latvian academic music is of particular importance. It continues to evolve and collaborate with composers and musicians at international level.
For more information about the concerts, please visit www.facebook.com/Karostaskamerzale
Use Google to translate the website. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the translation.
