© Janis Porietis
PĒTERIS VASKS AT 80 | FLYING BIRDS
Collegium Balticum & Chamber Music for Europe Museum of Musical Instruments , BrusselsTo celebrate the 80th birthday of Latvia’s best-known composer, this special day opens with an instrumental concert in which the birds take the lead.
The music of Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks is deeply rooted in his country’s cultural heritage. It reflects a strong ecological awareness and evokes the lost paradise of a disappearing natural world. Drawing on a timeless tradition, his work blends the flowing melodies of folk dances with the quiet spirituality of slow, contemplative choral music.
Over the course of several decades, Vasks has built an impressive body of work, ranging from solo piano pieces and chamber music to symphonic and concertante works, with the voice often playing a central role. His clear, refined, and understated musical language has made him one of the leading figures in Baltic music.
We celebrate his 80th birthday with a special day devoted to both instrumental and vocal music.
The Etcaetera Wind Quintet and the Spilliaert Piano Trio will perform in a concert without human voices, but accompanied by the morning’s earliest singers: the birds.