On 22 August, in the Dzintars Jurgelaitis Chamber Hall of the “Great Amber” Concert Hall in Liepāja, three outstanding artists – cellist Ivars Bezprozvanovs, clarinettist Eric P. Mandat, and pianist Agnese Egliņa – are inviting the audience on a vibrant musical journey from Latvia, through Europe, all the way to North America.

The concert programme features vivid and diverse chamber music works – ranging from introspective lyricism to sparkling dance energy. Two premieres will make this Liepāja summer evening especially memorable: “Heart in the Wind”, a new work for cello and piano by Lolita Ritmanis, and a newly discovered trio by Talivaldis Ķeniņš.

The evening will also include Eric P. Mandat’s expressive solo clarinet piece “Chiral Symmetries”, as well as Pēteris Plakidis’ emotionally profound and evocative works “Insomnia” and “Dedication to Brahms”, alongside the refined Preludes for piano by Volfgangs Dārziņš.

The Transatlantic Trio was formed in May 1991, when clarinetist Eric P. Mandat was in Latvia as part of a student exchange programme between the Southern Illinois University School of Music and the Latvian Academy of Music. During this time, he met cellist Ivars Bezprozvanovs and pianist Pēteris Plakidis, and the trio gave a series of highly successful performances in concert halls across Riga. A close musical collaboration and friendship developed between the musicians, which continued to flourish despite being separated by a great distance.

Over more than a decade, the Transatlantic Trio performed throughout Latvia and toured in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Clarinetist Eric P. Mandat has been a leading figure in the exploration of multiphonics, microtonality, and timbral modulation on the clarinet for over 40 years. Through his research, he has developed a deeply personal artistic voice as both performer and composer, and he is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the field of clarinet multiphonics.

Pianist Agnese Egliņa, known for her striking stage presence, playful agility, and spirited energy, is a recipient of Latvia’s highest music award – the Grand Music Award – for outstanding ensemble performance, as well as a laureate of numerous international competitions. As her career progressed, she became a frequent guest on international stages, performing across Europe, Africa, the United States, and China. As both a soloist and chamber musician, Agnese has been featured in numerous international music festivals.

Ivars Bezprozvanovs graduated from the cello class of Prof. Eleonora Testeļeca at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. From 1991 to 1993, he worked with the Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. From 1997 to 2021, he served as the associate principal cellist of the Latvian National Opera Orchestra. He is currently a teacher at the Emīls Dārziņš Music Secondary School. Bezprozvanovs has been actively involved in various chamber music projects, performing with like-minded pianists such as Pēteris Plakidis, Valdis Jancis, Aldis Liepiņš, and others.

Featuring:
Ivars BEZPROZVANOVS (violoncello)
Eric P. MANDAT (clarinet)
Agnese EGLIŅA (piano)

Programme:
Lolita RITMANIS (1962) “Heart in the Wind” for cello and piano (premiere)
Eric P. MANDAT (1957) “Chiral Symmetries” for solo clarinet
Pēteris PLAKIDIS (1947-2017) “Insomnia” trio for clarinet, cello, and piano
Volfgangs DĀRZIŅŠ (1906-1962) “Preludes” for piano
Talivaldis ĶENIŅŠ (1919-2008) “Conversations with Homeland” for cello and piano
Talivaldis ĶENIŅŠ | Trio for clarinet, cello, piano (premiere)
     I Melancholies on Jāzeps Vītols' theme
     II Latvian Jig
     III Abandoned cemetery
Pēteris PLAKIDIS | “Dedication to Brahms” trio for clarinet, cello, and piano