Gidon Kremer, violin
Elza Siliņa, violin

Soloists of the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica:
Alīna Vižine, violin
Giedre Dirvanauskaite, cello
Kristers Šīmanis, cello

Chamber Orchestra Kremerata Baltica

Program: Pēteris Vasks, Arvo Pärt, Benjamin Britten, Giya Kancheli, Johann Sebastian Bach

Gidon Kremer’s repertoire is exceptionally extensive — it includes nearly all Classical and Romantic works for violin, as well as contemporary music. The outstanding violinist has premiered numerous compositions, many of which were written specifically for him. Among them are two of Pēteris Vasks’ most well-known works, premiered together with the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, founded by Kremer himself: the violin concerto "Distant Light" and the Meditation for violin and string orchestra "Lonely Angel."

At the “April of Pēteris Vasks’ Music” festival, Gidon Kremer will be appearing for the first time, including in the program not only works by Vasks, but also by other like-minded composers, with a special focus on Arvo Pärt’s talent, who celebrates his 90th birthday this year.

Latvia and Estonia were once referred to as brotherly nations, and just as brotherly has been the international success of the great composers Pēteris Vasks and Arvo Pärt. The music of both composers has become a recognizable symbol of their respective countries, forming a cornerstone of the repertoire for both Gidon Kremer and later Kremerata Baltica. By regularly performing the works of these masters, audiences around the world have come to know and love them.