In his latest concert program, the pianist has focused on music inspired by the multifaceted state of California. 

‘This corner of the world has given us several personalities in music who have opened doors to a new world. Unfortunately, there is often a vast contrast between the achievements of these individuals and what we actually know about them, and that is unfair. Such phenomena as clusters, prepared piano, and string piano, seemingly known in the world of music, have surprising origin stories – ones that are radical, revolutionary, significant, and permanently embedded into the language of music. This concert is an homage to these pioneers, whose creations are still rippling into today’s music. Henry Cowell, John Cage, John Adams, George Crumb, Lou Harrison... They are the heroes of this concert program,’ says Žvikovs. 

The group of composers whose work will be performed at the concert can be described as trailblazers of music genres. In this program, we will be introduced to the music of conceptualist, freethinker and inventor John Cage and the play of his teacher, the eccentric avant-garde composer Henry Cowell, on the black-and-white keys and piano strings. 

Following a tradition of minimalism, the expressions of contemporary classicist John Adams will be performed through his works China Gates and Phrygian Gates, which, much like quivering and trembling water, encourages the listener to travel in constant motion. They will be followed by the personal music language of avant-garde composer George Crumb, shifting from a dreamy serenity to a state of deep emotional movement inspired by Béla Bartók’s work.

The program will be concluded with a presentation of the wondrous side of Californian culture, A Summerfield Set by ‘godfather’ of world music Lou Harrison.

The concert in Liepāja will take place in collaboration with the Autumn Chamber Music Festival.

Pianist Juris Žvikovs has gained recognition as an avid expert of twentieth- and twenty-first-century piano music who is equally skillful at playing piano keys and also the strings of the piano, prepared with various elements. He often performs solo in Latvia and other countries, including with our best orchestras Sinfonietta Rīga, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, and he is also an active member of various chamber ensembles. The pianist has taken part in several music festivals, including Gidons Krēmers’ Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus, the Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier, and the Bailu French Music Festival in China. He has had success at several international competitions and received several music awards (including the Grand Music Award of Latvia in 1994) and scholarships (including Fulbright Grants in 1996, 2009, and 2018). At the same time, Žvikovs is an associate professor of the Piano Departments at the J. Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He has led workshops in various prestigious universities in Europe and the US.

Participants:

Juris Žvikovs, piano

The program features work by:

Henry Cowell, John Cage, John Adams, George Crumb and Lou Harrison



Fall/winter season concerts of the series Personally 2022:

25.09. | SUNDAY | 15.00 RECITAL OF ARTURS MASKATS’ MUSIC

16.10. | SUNDAY | 15.00 PIANO MUSIC FROM NORTH AMERICA. MADE IN CALIFORNIA

20.11. | SUNDAY | 15.00 ARSEN PETROSYAN. ARMENIAN DUDUK MASTER

11.12. | SUNDAY | 15.00 GUNTA GELGOTE. VIENNESE CLASSICISTS AND THE BALTICS