Performing:

Marlene Ito - violine

Joaquín Riquelme García - viola

Andrei Ionut Ionita - cello

Gunars Upatnieks - double bass

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has recently been ranked first in the world. "The Berlin Philharmonic sets an international standard for its virtuosity and precision of ensemble. More than that, however, its players show a palpable hunger to go further; to test their audiences, their conductors – and themselves," writes Neil Fisher, Deputy Arts Editor of "The Times", adding - this year has "demonstrated the uniqueness of an orchestra that under Simon Rattle's much-discussed stewardship has continued to fascinate the world's classical music critics and fans alike."

Marking the unique occasion of the opening of the new "Great Amber" concert hall in Liepāja, the Berlin Phil String Quintett will perform within the programme of the opening of its Chamber Hall.

The members of the Berlin Phil String Quintett, four musicians from the Berliner Philharmoniker - Luiz Felipe Coelho, Marlene Ito, Joaquín Riquelme García, Gunars Upatnieks and the internationally acclaimed cellist Andrei Ionut Ionita - were brought together by a desire to perform the relatively rarely played compositions for string quintet with double bass. These will therefore shape the programme of this concert.