© Aivars Liepins
PĒTERIS VASKS AT 80 | PEACE ON EARTH
Collegium Balticum & Chamber Music for Europe Museum of Musical Instruments , BrusselsVoices and instruments come together for the close of this celebratory day, with Vasks’ spiritual music making a powerful plea for peace.
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.
This third and final concert brings instruments and voices together in Vasks’ Christmas quartet Peace on Earth. The work gives expression to his profound longing for serenity and human fellowship. After all, silence may be the most beautiful music of all and in peace it finds its echo.