Aleksandrs Antoņenko and choir "Blagovest"
An exclusive opportunity - the world-famous tenor Aleksandrs Antoņenko and the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "Blagovest" in the concert programme "Eternal Light" at the Ventspils Concert Hall "Latvija" on 14 April at 18.00 and at the Riga Cathedral on 28 April at 19.00.
New and unusual concert programme of sacred music "Eternal
Light" on 14 April at the Ventspils Concert Hall "Latvija" and on
28 April at the Riga Cathedral performed by Aleksandrs Antoņenko - the most renowned
internationally Latvian tenor, engaged by the world's largest opera houses, and
the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "Blagovest" - one of the best Latvian
choirs, which for already 34 years holds a unique, important and recognizable
place in the Latvian cultural space, combining at a high level of professionalism the best traditions of
Latvian choral singing and the bright and heartfelt technique of performing Orthodox
music.
The concert programme includes wonderful, but rarely performed Latvian contemporary sacred music works – composition "Easter" (Na Strastnoi) by Arturs Maskats (1957) dedicated to tenor Aleksandrs Antoņenko, and the oratorio for choir, organ, and percussion "Lux aeterna" by Pēteris Butāns (1942-2020) for which the composer received the Great Music Prize; as well as other Orthodox music gems sung by A. Antoņenko and the choir.
Inspired by the poem of Boris Pasternak, Arturs Maskat's impressive composition “Easter” (Na Strastnoi) is – in the composer's own words – filled with "the miracle of resurrection, its power and majesty".
Pēteris Butāns' expressive and simultaneously meditative oratorio “Lux aeterna” (Eternal Light in translation from Latin) combines various sacred texts manifesting the presence of eternal light – the canonical text of the Requiem, the Old Testament texts of Psalm 5 and the verses of the book of Moses in Old Slavonic, the poetry lines of the Latvian poetess Aspazija.
The concerts will feature tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko, Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "Blagovest", conductors Aleksandrs Brandavs and Jānis Kokins, Larisa Carjkova (organ), Uģis Krišjānis (piano), Edgars Saksons, Uģis Krūskops, and Ivo Krūskops (percussions).
The concerts are supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation.
Tickets for the concerts are available at "Biļešu paradīze" outlets or:
https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/138121 for 14.04.2024.
https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/138122 for 28.04.2024.
Ecumenical Easter Music And Prayers
Great Lent Chants
Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "BLAGOVEST" and conductor Aleksandrs Brandavs invite to the annual concert of the Great Lent Chants in the Concert Hall "Ave Sol" on Sunday, April 2 at 15:00.
Tickets are available at the sales points of “Biļešu paradize".
The concert program will feature compositions by Artemy Vedel,Alexander Arkhangelsky, Dmitry Bortniansky, Emīls Dārziņš, Lūcija Garūta, Georgs Pelēcis, Andrey Mikita, Victoria Poleva, Pēteris Butāns.
The chants of Great Lent are unusually beautiful, mournful and touching, but most importantly - they give hope.
Easter Concert
The program includes composition "Pokayaniya otverzi mi dveri (Open to Mo the Door of Repentance)" by the Ukrainian composer Artemiy Vedel, works by Arvo Part, Georgs Pelecis, Pēteris Butāns, Eriks Ešenvalds, and others.
GREAT LENT CHANTS
Tickets are available at the sales points of “Biļešu paradize".
As always, the program of the Great Lent concert will commence with Artemy Vedel's “Pokayaniya otverzi mi dveri” (Open to Me the Doors of Repentance), a composition that is sung only during the Great Lent and that expresses the essence of all human emotions during the Great Lent.
The concert program will feature compositions by Alexander Arkhangelsky, Alexander Grechaninov, Pavel Chesnokov, Arvo Part, Georgs Pelēcis. For the first time, BLAGOVEST will perform the works of Andrey Mikita, as well as the incredibly expressive composition of the famous Latvian composer Arturs Maskats "Na Strastnoy (In Holy Week)", inspired by the poetry of Boris Pasternak and filled with "the miracle of the resurrection, its strength and power".
Do not miss!
Prayer for Ukraine
The live broadcast of the concert will be available on https://www.facebook.com/Blagovest.Riga
and the YouTube account
of the Education, Culture and Sports Department of the Riga City Council
The concert "Prayer for Ukraine" is supported by the Riga City Council, it is organized
by the Riga Culture and Folk Art Center “Small Guild” in cooperation with the
foundation “Sing Latvia”.
The concert program performed by the choir "Blagovest" will feature pearls of Orthodox music: works by classics Alexander Arkhangelsky, Alexander Grechaninov and Sergei Rachmaninov, as well as contemporary authors Georgs Pelecis and Andrei Mikita. The choir will also sing the traditional composition of the Great Lent or Passion time "Open to Me the Doors of Repentance" by Ukrainian composer Artemy Vedel, as well as for the first time - parts of the composition "Eternal Light" for choir and organ by Pēteris Butāns.
"Hear, O Lord, my words, consider my groaning..."
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir “Blagovest” and conductor Aleksandrs Brandavs are inviting to the Christmas Concert on January 14, 2022 at 19.00 in the “Ave Sol” Concert Hall (Riga St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church).
Celebrating the long-awaited reunion with its audience, the choir has
prepared a new and diverse concert program devoted to Orthodox Christmas, which
will begin with the premiere of "Celebration of the Nativity" by
Andrejs Selickis, written for the choir "Blagovest". The concert
program will also include Christmas chants and carols by Georgy Sviridov, Pavel
Chesnokov, Vladimir Belayev, the monk Kyprian and Alexei Larin, compositions
for choir and soloists by Valery Gavrilin, Vladimir Martinov, Arvo Pärt and Ēriks Ešenvalds.
Tickets – at "Biļešu paradīze"
ANNIVERSARY CONCERT on 14.10.2020
On October 14, a concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Riga
Orthodox Chamber Choir “Blagovest” will take place in the Grand Guild within
the framework of the Riga A Cappella Festival. The program includes the
brightest and audience’s most loved works from the "Blagovest" repertoire
accumulated over 30 years.
The concert will feature the pearls of the Russian sacred music classics:
baroque in the choral concert by Dmitry Bortnyansky, compositions by the brightest
representatives of romanticism Sergei Rachmaninov and Pavel Chesnokov, contemporary
classics by Georgs Pelecis and Vladimir Martynov. There will be compositions
that have been sung from the very beginning, as well as new acquisitions in the
choir's repertoire.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir
“Blagovest” under the direction of its founder and artistic director Aleksandrs
Brandavs has planned several anniversary concerts of the choir. Despite the
well-known difficulties and limitations of 2020, choir “Blagovest” has prepared
anniversary concert programs, as well as took 1st place in the choral
competition “Hajnowka’s Orthodox Church Music Days” in September in Hajnowka,
Poland, participating by means of the video broadcast.
BLAGOVEST - 30
One could write volumes of books about the choir's excellence, successes and adventures, which are summarized in a few paragraphs in the official choir biography. Everyone will have their own memories of what is actually contained in these words. But the main thing for us is that during these years "Blagovest" has become a second family for its members and always expected friend for its audience.
Today, under the leadership of our Maestro Aleksandrs Brandavs, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Blagovest”. Looking forward to meeting you soon, we sincerely congratulate our Maestro, “Blagovest” singers, conductors, choirmasters, soloists, partners, friends, supporters and audience of all times!
CHRISTMAS CHANTS
On Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 16.00 the Concert of Christmas Chants by “Blagovest” will take place at the Cultural Center of Madona.
CHANTS OF THE GREAT LENT
CONCERT «PEACE PRAYER»
The concert
program will feature compositions by Georgs Pelēcis, Nikolai Golovanov, Alexander
Arkhangelsky, Alexander Grechaninov, Alfred Schnittke, Palestrina, Ēriks
Ešenvalds and others. The concert
takes place within the framework of the International Riga A Cappella Festival,
which from 17 to 21 October, already for the sixth year, offers high quality
concerts of bright and internationally acclaimed performers of vocal music,
promoting a cappella singing in Latvia. The choir “Blagovest” with its programs
of sacred music has become regular participant of the Riga A Cappella Festival.
Tickets for the
concert are available at the sales points of “Biļešu serviss” /https://www.bilesuserviss.lv/lat/biletes/festivals/visi/miera-lugsana-265265/ and at the
box office of Riga Cathedral.
CHANTS OF THE GREAT LENT
With its annual concerts of the Great Lent (previously in the Concert Hall “Ave Sol” and this year in Riga Cathedral), one of the best performers of the sacred music - the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "BLAGOVEST" under the direction of Aleksandrs Brandavs is continuing the tradition of public performances of the Great Lent chants, established in the 19th century in St. Petersburg by the great Russian composer Alexey Lvov, giving the opportunity to the secular audience to hear these chants filled with deep emotions and blessed solemnity.
The program of the Great Lent concert, as every year, will commence with Artemy Vedel's “Pokayaniya otverzi mi dveri” (Open to Me the Doors of Repentance), a composition that is sung only during the Great Lent and that expresses the essence of all human emotions during the Great Lent. The audience will have the opportunity to hear again movements of the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom of Sergey Rachmaninov and - performed by "BLAGOVEST" for the first time - an Ode from the Arvo Pärt's "Kanon Pokayanen" (Canon of Repentance). The concert program will also feature compositions, both traditionally included in the choir’s repertoire and newly discovered, by Alexander Arkhangelsky, Alexander Grechaninov, Pavel Chesnokov, Nikolai Golovanov, Georgy Sviridov.
ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CHANTS
Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir "BLAGOVEST" traditionally invites to a concert of Christmas chants on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 18:00 at the St. Peter's Church in Riga.
Led by the artistic director and conductor Aleksandrs Brandavs, the choir has prepared a new, not yet presented program of Russian sacred music: Christmas chants and concerts for the choir and soloists by Stepan Degtyarev, Nikolai Golovanov, Pavel Chesnokov and other composers. Some festive surprises will also be performed.
The children's choir of the Riga Pupil’s Palace (Rīgas Skolēnu pils) "Accolada" will take part in the concert as a guest, under the direction of conductor Oksana Cherkasova.
“Blagovest” invites to the Concert in Riga Dome Cathedral
The choir will present a diverse program, reflecting the rich creative experience of “Blagovest” for over 25 years, with the emotional fulfillment inherent to the choir and its maestro. Along with orthodox chants and compositions of beloved composers: Alexander Arkhangelsky, Alexander Grechaninov, Sergey Rachmaninov, Alfred Schnittke, and others, traditionally included in the choir's repertoire, “Blagovest” will also sing compositions of Da Palestrina, William Albright and Lucija Garuta, as well as the Psalm No.150, written by Georgs Pelēcis for the choir “Blagovest”, in the new arrangement by the author.
The concert is organized with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation and the Education, Culture and Sports Department of Riga City Council, in the frame of the 5th International Riga A Capella Festival.
After the concert, the choir will travel long distance to represent Latvia in the Grand Prix of Nations within the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Double Victory of the choir BLAGOVEST in the Grand Prix of Nations Riga 2017 and the 3rd European Choir Games
With remarkable success and a double victory, the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir BLAGOVEST has concluded participation in the Grand Prix of Nations 2017 and the 3rd European Choir Games, gaining the gold medals and titles of the Winner of the Grand Prix of Nations and the Champion of the European Choral Games in the competition category "Musica Sacra a cappella".
The choir, with its diverse, high-quality and emotionally heartfelt singing, has conquered both the hearts of the audience and the highest scores and recognition of the jury; and with great emotion BLAGOVEST sung the Latvian national anthem twice from the stage of the awards ceremony.
With these great victories and feeling of a well-accomplished work, the choir closes the season. During the next season, the Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir BLAGOVEST will participate in the Riga A Cappella Festival that traditionally takes place in Riga in October, as well as will represent Latvia in the Grand Prix of Nations Colombo 2017, taking place in the frame of the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games in Sri Lanka on October 21-28, 2017.
BLAGOVEST anniversary album on the internet
THE LENTEN CHANTS
As such, the tradition of orthodox Lenten chants emerged in the 19th century, and thus far it holds a special place in the field of sacred music. The beginning of this amazing tradition was launched by Aleksey F. Lvov who was a violinist, composer, conductor and director of the Palace chapel, in Saint-Petersburg. The chants of the Great Lent resonate with the hearts of even secular listeners. And there is nothing surprising, since the comprehensive beauty of orthodox sacred music becomes especially apparent exactly in the context of the Lent, when music compositions are aimed at provoking reflections on selflessness and suffering, on love and betrayal, on the great gifts of absolution and human life…
After the Lent concert, BLAGOVEST, at the invitation of the organizers, is going to Poland to the annual international festival Hajnówka’s Church Music Days. In this music event, BLAGOVEST will take part for the 5th time already. Within the Hajnówka’s Church Music Days in 2016, BLAGOVEST got awarded twice: with the diploma to the Choir for the 1st place in the Academic Choirs category, as well as with the personal award to the best conductor.
Presentation of the anniversary album “In Thy Kingdom” on February 9, 2017
Photo report from the presentation can be viewed here.
BLAGOVEST releases the anniversary album
Being leaded for 25 years by its founder and permanent artistic director Alexander Brandavs, the choir received recognition in various international festivals and music competitions, released 7 albums and gathered significant experience while touring to many countries with program of Russian sacred music. The touring geography of BLAGOVEST includes Belgium, France, Italy, USA, Denmark, Russia, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Belarus, Great Britain and Greece. BLAGOVEST continues to broaden its repertoire and familiarize the listeners with previously unknown pieces of music. For 2017, BLAGOVEST scheduled participation in a number of events in the world of sacred music.
