Latvian Radio Choir & Putnins

Nature and the Soul Latvian Radio Choir & Putnins

The Latvian Radio Choir beautifully performs these Latvian choral classics by Vitols. Darzins, Melngailis, Zalitis and Graubins. 'The majority of Latvia's choral conductors have likely grown up with these songs whose imagery, sound and colour are deeply encoded in our consciousness, perhaps to a much greater extent than we realise. The subdued northern nature that bursts into a lavish display at the height of summer and the 'various emotional states of the soul', as Emils Darzin s described the subjects that interested him in music - these two themes, their refined interrelations and the resultant imagery are to my mind the most important features of our choral music. It is very important for me to feel how the fantastic world of these songs comes to life again in our consciousness and imagination at a time when life is changing all around us and individual experience has once again added something new and come full circle. It is important to return home to meet one's self. Working on this album, I have felt as if I am writing a love letter. On your one hundredth birthday I wish you many returns of the day, dear Latvia!'