Season 92 (2022-2023)

Nordic Light Ēriks’ Story

Ēriks Story

My spiritual flight towards the far-northern latitudes grew out of an instinct for everything unpredictable and a sensation in my fingertips: it was in 2011 that I began to think of the Northern Lights. I was fascinated by their dimensions, the versatility of their colours and the forms and the mystical legends rooted in Northern folklore (including folksongs). I remember the night we met for the first time in the snow-clad meadow of Northern Norway – the aurora polaris flared up, and, no matter how hard they tried, my eyes could not grasp the splendour in its totality. Looking at the sky, I fell backwards into the snow and could not help making a snow angel. Then I whistled and hummed the Latvian folksong on the artic lights. The tears of Ešenvalds, an adult man, were full of a child’s joy and amazingly sincere. It was then – during the seemingly endless eight hours of night that this multimedia symphony was born.

I was looking for the most ancient evidence; I read almost 150 books at the libraries of Cambridge and Tromsø Universities – on the meeting of the solar wind and the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. I interviewed the leading Norwegian researchers of aurora polaris: Asgeir Brekke and Truls Lynne Hansen; in Greenland – the experienced Inuit actress Makka Kleist; in Alaska – the American composer John Luther Adams; in Tromsø – the expert in Scandinavian folklore Ola Graff.

Having found the legends, I decided to find the storytellers. Together with the experienced film-makers Renārs Vimba and Dainis Juraga, we went to explore the magnificence of Lapland, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Alaska; back in Rīga we made records of the stories told by Latvians Estonian, Finns, Karelians, and Yakuts.

I spent four years with the Northern Lights: it might seem like an obsession, but it wasn’t. It was an amazing chance to discover and record the unique heritage of the Northern Lights, which one can only find in nations living next door to the aurora borealis for generations.

The symphony itself needs the aurora borealis! I am grateful to photographer Kjetil Skogli for his kind response – he introduced me to the mysteries of the aurora borealis and granted his videos to the symphony.

I thank all the supporters of the Northern Lights project: especially the Latvians in Canada, the USA, Australia and Great Britain who lent a helping hand in the very beginning. Thank you, Renārs and Dainis, for all our ideas, deeds and mischief! Thank you, Māris Ošlejs, for being so trusting!

Composer Ēriks Ešenvalds

 

Project Supporters.

We thank the people and organizations for supporting the NORDIC LIGHT project:

Gunta Reynolde, DAUGAVAS VANAGI AND VANADZES, the Latvian Relief Society of Canada, Toronto Branch
Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Latvian sorority Spīdola, Canada
Nordea Bank AB Latvia branch
Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation, Canada
United States Embassy in Latvia
Nordic-Baltic Mobility Program
Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia
Solvita Sējāne and Lilija Zobens, Musica Baltica
Māris Dižgalvis, SIA Inducont
airBaltic
Lilita Daenke, Adelaide Latvians’ mixed choir DZIESMU LAIVA, Australia
Ināra and Ziedonis Āboliņš, mixed choir Straumēni, UK
Dace Aperāne, Latvian Cultural Association TILTS, USA

Taketo and Vija Muratas, Canada
Graham and Anita Andersons, Australia
Līga and Edgars Ružas, Latvia
Anita and Ivars Gaides, Canada
Inese Auziņa-Smita, UK
Laura Alders, Canada
Gunta Plostniece, USA
Sarah Bijons, Canada
Anonymous

Ola Graff and Marit Anne Hauan, Tromsø University Museum, Norway
Asgeir Brekke, Department of Physics and Technology, University of Tromsø, Norway
Turls Lynne Hansen, Tromsø Geophysical Observatory, University of Tromsø, Norway
Robin Tyson, Edition Peters Artist Management, UK
Ginta Tropa, Cultural Advicer, Office of Nordic Council of Ministers in Latvia
Dace Bluķe, Latvian Composer’s Union
Julia Pars, Culture Centre KATUAQ, Nuuk, Greenland
Þórður Tómasson, Skógar Museum, Iceland
Makka Kleist, actress, Greenland
Sigurður Ægisson, etnologist, Iceland
Paul Krejci and Maya Salganek, University of Alaska Musem of the North
Patuk Glenn and Sarah A.Skin, Iñupiat Heritage Center, Barrow, Alaska
Mariah Johnson and Scott Allen, Qutekcak Native Tribe, Seward, Alaska
Māris Ošlejs, State Choir LATVIJA
Uldis Lipskis, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra

Nicolas Ellis, conductor

Nicolas Ellis is the Artistic Director, Conductor and Founder of the Orchestre de l’Agora and currently serves as Artistic Partner to the Orchestre Métropolitain and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He was recently named Principal Guest Conductor for Les Violons du Roy, starting in the 2023-2024 season. 

Mr. Ellis appeared as guest conductor with numerous Canadian orchestras including Les Violons du Roy, the Vancouver Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montréal, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Orchestre Métropolitain, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. He also regularly collaborates with the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique.

During the 2022-2023 season, he is invited to conduct performances of Britten’s War Requiem at the Oper Graz in Austria and returns as a guest conductor to the Orchestre National de Bretagne. He has also collaborated as Assistant conductor to conductor Raphaël Pichon and his Ensemble Pygmalion on productions of Fidelio (Opéra comique de Paris) and Idomeneo (Festival d’Aix-en-Provence).

Mr. Ellis founded the Orchestre de l’Agora in 2013. The orchestra uses music as a tool for sustainable social change and has established itself on the Montreal scene for its creative programming and bold projects. Its repertoire ranges from Bach’s 6 Brandenburg concertos, to Britten’s Turn of the Screw, to new works by Canadian composers, and more recently the ensemble presented Mahler’s 3rd symphony for its Gala de la Terre, a fundraising concert for environmental organizations. The orchestra has developed projects involving youth with mental health challenges, educational music workshops for children and a monthly concert series at the Prison de Bordeaux in Montreal.

Nicolas Ellis is the recipient of the 2017 Bourse de carrière Fernand-Lindsay and was named Revelation of the Year 2018-2019 by Radio-Canada. More recently, he won the Prix Goyer Mécénat Musica 2021. 

www.nicoellis.com

Rune Bergmann, conductor

Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann is currently Music Director of Canada’s Calgary Philharmonic, Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of Poland’s Szczecin Philharmonic, and Chief Conductor of Switzerland’s Argovia Philharmonic, positions he has held since the 2017/18, 2016/17, and 2020/21 seasons, respectively.

Guest engagements in the 2022/23 season bring Bergmann once again to the podiums of the Baltimore, North Carolina and Malaga Symphony Orchestras. He will also make his debut with the recently formed ADDA Simfonica in Spain.

Bergmann’s recent guest engagements include concert weeks with the Baltimore, Colorado Detroit, Edmonton, Houston, New Jersey and Pacific Symphony Orchestras in North America, and the Bergen Philharmonic, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Orquesta Sinfonica Portuguesa, Norwegian National Opera Orchestra, Orquesta de Valencia, Staatskapelle Halle, Wrocław Philharmonic, and the Risør Festival in Europe, to name a few. Bergmann has also led performances of Il barbiere di Siviglia and La traviata at the Norwegian National Opera, and he made his US operatic debut in Yale Opera’s production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as staged by Claudia Solti, while previous guest engagements have led him to such auspices as the Oslo Philharmonic, New Mexico Philharmonic, Münchner Symphoniker, Mainfranken Theater Würzburg, Philharmonie Südwestfalen, as well as the symphony orchestras of Malmö, Helsingborg, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim, Karlskrona, and Odense.

2018 saw the release of Bergmann’s first recording with the Szczecin Philharmonic, which featured the „Resurrection“ Symphony in E-minor by Mieczyław Karłowicz, a piece which has since become a major focus of Bergmann’s repertoire. He has also released recordings with the Argovia Philharmonic, including Ravel’s G-Major Piano Concerto and Mozart’s Bb-Major Bassoon concerto.

Earlier in his career, Rune Bergmann served as First Kapellmeister and deputy-Music Director of the Theater Augsburg, where he led performances of numerous operas, including such titles as La Traviata, Der fliegende Holländer, and Die Fledermaus. He has also served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony, and has been Artistic Director of Norway’s innovative Fjord Cadenza Festival since its inception in 2010.

Jan Lisiecki, piano

Jan Lisiecki’s interpretations and technique speak to a maturity beyond his age. At 27, the Canadian performs over a hundred yearly concerts worldwide, and has worked closely with conductors such as Antonio Pappano, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Daniel Harding, Manfred Honeck, and Claudio Abbado (†).

In 2021/2022, Lisiecki presents a new recital programme featuring Chopins Nocturnes and Études in more than 30 cities all around the globe. Recent return invitations include Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for performances at Carnegie Hall and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Lisiecki recently performed a Beethoven Lieder cycle with baritone Matthias Goerne, among others at the Salzburg Festival, and has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Staatskapelle Dresden, Orchestre de Paris, Bavarian Radio Symphony and London Symphony Orchestra.

At the age of fifteen, Lisiecki signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon. The label launched its celebrations of the Beethoven Year 2020 with the release of a live recording of all five Beethoven concertos from Konzerthaus Berlin, with Lisiecki leading the Academy of St Martin in the Fields from the piano. His Beethoven Lieder cycle with Matthias Goerne, released shortly after, was awarded the Diapason d’Or. Lisiecki’s eighth recording for the prestigious label, a double album of Frédéric Chopin’s Complete Nocturnes which he also showcases in his current recital programme, appeared in August 2021 and in February 2022 on vinyl, immediately topping the classical charts in North America and Europe. Most recently, his previous solo programme Night Music, featuring works by Mozart, Ravel, Schumann and Paderewski, was released as a digital album. His recordings have been awarded with the JUNO and ECHO Klassik. At eighteen, Lisiecki became both the youngest ever recipient of Gramophone’s Young Artist Award and received the Leonard Bernstein Award. He was named UNICEF Ambassador to Canada in 2012.

 

Find out where Jan is performing next by visiting his website. 

Sibelius’ First Symphony

Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39, is a landmark work in the history of classical music and a testament to the composer’s skill and artistic vision. Composed between 1895 and 1899, the symphony is a masterpiece of Romantic orchestral music and is widely regarded as one of Sibelius’s greatest works.

The first movement of the symphony is marked by its sweeping melodies and dramatic contrasts, with the orchestral sections alternating between lush and powerful moments and more introspective and lyrical passages. The second movement is a scherzo, characterized by its playful and energetic rhythm, with the strings and woodwinds weaving intricate patterns over a driving rhythm in the percussion section.

The third movement is a slow and contemplative adagio, characterized by its beautiful and expressive melodies. Sibelius creates a sense of stillness and introspection with delicate, sustained strings, and soft, atmospheric woodwinds. The movement builds to a climax before resolving in a peaceful and serene coda.

The final movement is a triumphant and celebratory allegro, with the full orchestra building to a rousing conclusion. Sibelius creates a sense of excitement and energy with driving rhythms and powerful brass and percussion, culminating in a triumphant and joyful finish that leaves a lasting impression on the listener.

Throughout the symphony, Sibelius demonstrates his mastery of orchestration, creating a rich and vibrant sound that is uniquely his own. He also draws on the musical traditions of his native Finland, incorporating folk melodies and rhythms into his music to create a distinctive and personal style.

Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 is a landmark work that continues to be widely performed and recorded to this day. Its sweeping melodies, dynamic contrasts, and emotional depth make it one of the greatest symphonies of the Romantic era, and a testament to Sibelius’s skill as a composer and his contribution to music. Whether you are a seasoned classical music aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this symphony is sure to leave a lasting impression and is highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of music.

 

*image at the top of the page an internal photograph of the Sibelius Wind Pipe Organ

Dale Anne Brendon, drummer

Originally from London Ontario Canada, Dale Anne’s many years playing drums and percussion with the North American touring act Jeans n’ Classics have taken her from Jacksonville Florida to Anchorage Alaska, with many cities in between.

Dale Anne’s classical music career has included playing percussion with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Orchestra London Canada to name a few, providing an opportunity for her to perform with such world-class artists such as Marie Osmond, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Harry Belafonte, and Mel Torme.

Presently Dale Anne is touring with Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, in support of the album Heavy Blues, released April 2015.

Dale Anne has also often been involved with theatre productions at the Stratford Festival of Canada, drumming for their productions of Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

Dale Anne endorses Sabian cymbals, Yamaha drums and Promark by D’Addario drumsticks.

Steve Lucas, bassist

Steve Lucas is a Canadian session bassist and composer/producer with a wide-ranging list of recording and touring credits. He has recorded or performed with many award-winning artists and projects, including Bruce Cockburn (including the 2000 Juno Award winning album Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu), Ron Korb (including a 2016 Grammy Award nomination for album Asia Beauty), Loreena McKennitt, The Band’s Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, Big Sugar, Alan Frew, Moe Koffman, Seals & Crofts, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Rik Emmett, and the soundtrack for the 2009 Academy Award nominated film, Precious.

Steve’s original electronic music has been featured in television productions The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, The Diary of Alicia Keys (DVD), NBC Dateline, Love it Or List It, Real Housewives of Atlanta, CNN’s Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain, Australia’s Top Model, eTalk Profile featuring Gwen Stefani, Auto Racing TSN, Canada AM, MTV Screen, Better Homes and Gardens, and more. Steve also wrote the theme songs for The Score Network’s This is the Score, and Pride TV’s Shout news program. He also performed and composed music for Leonard Cohen’s documentary film, This Beggar’s Description.

Steve has performed as a bassist on television shows such as The David Letterman Show, and the Juno Awards, has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Bass Frontiers, Toronto’s NOW magazine, and has written published articles on music theory and technique applied to the bass guitar, for Canadian Musician Magazine.

As a member of the Jeans ‘n Classics music ensemble he has performed with many orchestras across North America, including Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Reno Symphony Orchestra.

Steve also performs in musical theatre productions, including the recent 2019 North American premiere of Bend it like Beckham, a musical based on the hit film, as well as other shows such as The Lion King, Miss Saigon, and Mamma Mia.

John Regan, keyboardist

John Regan has been a member of Jeans ’n Classics since the early 1990’s. Classically trained but conditioned by rock, pop and folk music, John’s repertoire is vast. Prior to joining Jeans ’n Classics he worked with Second City in London, Ontario and did solo work across southwestern Ontario. John cites Joe Jackson, Tom Waits, Elton John and Roy Bittan as influences.

Since becoming a Jeans ’n Classics regular performer, John has shared the piano with such notables as Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Lawrence Gowan (Styx), as well as his good friend Don Paulton (Lighthouse, Jeans ’n Classics). He has performed with more than 50 orchestras across North America. in addition to the piano, John often plays host and emcee in J’nC concerts, offering insight and whimsy to the musical selections.

A high school teacher and football coach by day, John lives in London with his wife and two small children.

Peter Brennan, guitarist

Born in England, Peter Brennan was heavily influenced by bands like the Beatles. He studied Music Composition and Theory at Western University in London, Ontario where he now resides. During the ’70s and ’80s he toured extensively throughout North America, establishing himself as a guitarist and Music Director with a variety of groups. He also became an in-demand producer/arranger with top-ten successes in the UK, producer awards and grants in Canada, where he was selected as a Juno Awards judge.

Peter has always loved the sound of a rock band with an orchestra. In the early ’90s this dream became a reality with the establishment of Jeans ’n Classics.

The Jeans ’n Classics family features some of the finest vocalists and instrumentalists in Canada and the US. Peter has also created and developed orchestra shows for a number of headliners of worldwide note, including Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp) and Martin Fry of ABC who Peter performed with at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Peter recently received the Mayor’s Award for the Arts in London, Ontario and was named to the University Of Western Ontario/Faculty Of Music “Wall Of Fame”.