On 21 October at 16.00, the Concert Hall “Latvija” will host Daumants Kalniņš’ author’s evening, where the singer will perform his own songs together with the Ventspils Big Band. The compositions have been arranged and adapted by Ritvars Garoza especially for the Big Band with vocals.
The Concert will feature songs written by Daumants Kalniņš in Latvian and English, forming a special selection from his previously released albums – “Part of me” (2016), “Sirdsprieks” (2017) and “Drošinājums” (2022). Daumants says about the creative process: “I only write music when I’m inspired. It’s moments, feelings that I try to capture.” Daumants Kalniņš is the author of the lyrics, but for the songs on the latest album, the composer has chosen poetry by Knuts Skujenieks. “The deep meaning, light and personal touch of the poet permeate Skujenieks’ poetry and inspired me to create music alongside it, which does not overshadow the written word, but opens up another dimension through the language of music,” Daumants continues: “The meaning of his written word will always be relevant again, searching for that one kind, human and unbreakable voice in ourselves and in others.”
Renārs Lācis, Artistic Director of the Ventspils Big Band, says he is thrilled that after so many years of playing together, the Ventspils Big Band has the opportunity to join Daumants Kalniņš in performing a programme of the composer’s songs. “Of course, many people know Daumants from his collaboration with Raimonds Pauls, but Daumants’ own compositions are also valuable – they have a rhythmic, harmonious and rich musical language. And the added value of incorporating Latvian into jazz music is also particularly noteworthy. It is important that new songs are being created, where the Latvian language is heard together with quality music.”
Daumants Kalniņš (1990) began his solo singing career at the age of nine with the role of the genius in a production of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” at the Latvian National Opera. In the following years, Daumants also sang in other opera productions. After completing his studies in the Riga Cathedral Boys Choir and at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where he studied oboe and jazz singing, Daumants leads a jazz quintet and composes jazz ballads, performs with guitarist Kaspars Zemītis, Orchestra “Rīga”, Jelgava Big Band, Ventspils Big Band, has collaborated with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian Radio Choir, Raimonds Pauls and others.
Daumants Kalniņš received the “Spēlmaņu nakts” award in the category “Debut of the Year in Performing Arts” for the role of Quasimodo in the National Theatre production of Zigmārs Liepiņš’ melodrama “Notre-Dame de Paris”, and was nominated for the Great Music Award 2012 in the category “Debut of the Year”, winning the Audience Choice Award. Winner of several jazz vocal competitions, Grand Prix at Riga Jazz Stage 2015. Daumants proves himself to be a strong singer, equally capable of performing theatre, academic music and the complex jazz repertoire.
The concert is organised by SIA “Kurzemes filharmonija”, and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Ventspils State City Municipality. Tickets are available at the ticket sales network “Biļešu paradīze”, as well as at the box offices of the Concert Hall “Latvija” and the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”.
Photography and video filming might take place during the event. The materials will be used for publicity purposes, on the website and social media accounts of the Concert Hall “Latvija”.
