on December 6, at 19.00, the “Latvija” concert hall will host Ventspils Chamber Music Days – CELLO RITMICO.
Performers: Gleb Pyšniak, cello / Lithuania; Guntars Freibergs, percussion instruments; Pavel Giunter, percussion instruments / Lithuania; Edgars Zaurs, percussion instruments.
Repertoire: A. Koppel, N. J. Živković, A. Dorman, P. Buravickis, A. Pärt, L. H. Stevens, G. Sollima.
Organised by the Ventspils Music School, supported by the Local Government of Ventspils State City, and the programme “Latvijas Skolas soma” (Latvian School Bag).
Tickets are available at the ticket offices of “Biļešu Paradīze” and HERE. Ticket price: EUR 5.00
The program is designed as a dynamic journey through the world of percussion instruments, which both contrasts and also has a lot in common with the poignant sound of the cello. At the concert, there will be an opportunity to meet the legendary Lithuanian percussionist Pavel Ginters, who has established a long-term and regular collaboration with the domestic percussionist Guntars Freibergs. They will also play together in this concert, where the group of musicians will be joined by one of Lithuania’s leading cellists Gļebs Pišņaks and Latvia’s new generation of percussion sensation Edgars Zaurs, a 4th-year student of Ventspils Music High School, who in his short career has already become a laureate of several international competitions and has performed as a soloist together with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra.
Pavel Ginters is a well-known percussionist from Lithuania, who is a sought-after soloist in classical, contemporary and jazz music. Giunter Percussion, founded by him, is the first ensemble of such a composition in Lithuania, which gives concerts in many European cities.
Glebs Pišňaks is one of the most outstanding cellists in the Baltic States, who has performed in prestigious concert halls and attended master classes of many celebrities. He has received several awards for his contribution to the promotion of Lithuanian music and now teaches at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Guntars Freiberg is a teacher of the Ventspils Music High School – a percussionist who received his education at the Moscow Central Music School and several prestigious European conservatories, as well as improved his skills in master classes with leading percussionists.
He has won recognition in international competitions and has performed as a soloist in various countries solo, in ensembles and also with orchestras. Guntars not only actively performs concerts, but is also involved in teaching work and is a member of the Association of Latvian Percussionists – Pedagogues. In 2023, he received the Great Music Award for outstanding performance throughout the year.
Edgars Zaurs has started his studies in Talsi with Artas Balmanis. After that, studies at Ventspils Music High School with teacher Guntars Freiberg.
Edgars Zaurs has achieved great success in various local and international competitions. The 2nd place in the 2023 Valdas Vikmanis Latvian Young Percussion Artists Competition in Liepāja and the 1st place in the International Italian Percussion Competition “Italy PAS Percussion Competition” in Pescara, Italy should be highlighted. He has performed as a soloist with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and also collaborated with the Ventspils Chamber Orchestra and the Percussion Ensemble of the Ventspils Music High School.
One of the brightest musical events – in 2022, in the space created by artists Katrīna Neiburga and Andras Eglīš, in the installation “Frequent”, together with percussionists Guntars Freiberga, Mika Bāliņa, Edgars Vaivodas, Ernest Mediņa, Reina Tomiņa, the work of the composer Michael Gordon was played for the first time in Latvia. Timber”.
About Ventspils chamber music days
This series of chamber music days organized by Ventspils Music High School started in 2015, inviting Latvian musicians who were studying at European music universities at that time. The concerts were imbued with the enthusiasm and courage of young people. Over time, the festival has evolved, bringing together professionals, teachers and their chamber music partners. School students, especially the best of them, are also included in the programs. Chamber music days have become a place of creative expression for participants of concerts and master classes, teachers, students, graduates and their friends interested in music. They have become a platform that connects music enthusiasts.
