Sigvards Kļava (LV)

OBSERVING A CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS FOR SIBELIUS ACADEMY STUDENTS

Sigvards Klava guides the students of the Sibelius Academy into the world of Sergei Rachmaninov: the tradition in his music and the creation of the sound and articulation in an ensemble. The differences and similarities between Rachmaninov’s tradition and the Western choir music are also discussed. The choir on stage is Sibelius Academy Vocal Ensemble.

The masterclass programme contains parts from Rachmaninov’s Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. The parts are the same that are rendered by the Sibelius Academy vocal ensemble in the concert on Friday. The sheet music is available at, e.g. IMSLP.

SIGVARDS KĻAVA (1962) is one of the most outstanding Latvian conductors, also active as a teacher and a producer. He is the artistic director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992.

As a result of Kļava’s steady efforts, the Latvian Radio Choir has become an internationally recognized, vocally distinctive collective, where each singer possesses a creative individuality. The choir has recorded a number of choral works by little known or completely forgotten composers of the past, as well as formed a friendly collaboration with a number of notable Latvian composers – Juris Ābols, Andris Dzenītis, Maija Einfelde, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Arturs Maskats, Kristaps Pētersons, Santa Ratniece, Pēteris Vasks.

Kļava initiated the collaboration with the most brilliant representatives of Latvian traditional music – The Suiti Wives, Ilga Reizniece and Zane Šmite. Together with director Uģis Brikmanis he has collected and recorded samples of Catholic musical culture in the Kurzeme (Courland) and Latgale regions – the chants sung by women of several generations. Kļava has been active in the field of amateur choir as well – he leads several distinguished amateur choirs, and has been appointed the Chief Conductor of the Latvian Song Festival.

Sigvards Kļava is a professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and is frequently part of international juries. Kļava is a multiple winner of the Latvian Grand Music Award. He has performed at the Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw of Amsterdam, Berliner Konzerthaus and Philharmonie, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Bervaldhallen in Stockholm, Dresdner Frauenkirche, New York Lincoln Centre a. o.