The Grand Prize for the Best Musicians of Latvia – Who Are These People?

Yes, and once again about Raimonds Pauls - it was he, being the Minister of Culture in 1992, who came up with this award.

Either a Woman or a Vision

BMN - This is a statuette by Armands Jansons, made in an abstract style (either a woman or a violin) and quite heavy, as it is made of silver.

The prize is awarded annually - usually to about ten musicians who have distinguished themselves in their creativity over the past year. Latvian musicians prevail, but occasionally there have been world names in the honorary list – for example, the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich was recognized for the festival held in Riga in 2001 named after him (it was unforgettable!).

The maestro was right to come up with this, as after the collapse of the USSR, honorary titles were abolished (and they came with additional payments – for example, a Honored Artist of the Latvian SSR received 50 rubles, and for a People's Artist even more). Although in the first years, there was no money attached to the prize, and Pauls told the author of these lines in 1996: "Well, what can you do if the state is poor?".

However, just in time for Rostropovich, they managed to arrange a prize with the help of sponsors - 400 lats (at that time, it was a decent sum, above the average salary in Latvia). Now the monetary component is 2,000 euros, but without exaggeration, for each awardee, recognition from colleagues, the public, and an enlightened jury consisting exclusively of professional musicians from the country is primarily important.

The Maestro's Only Wish

And the words of the Maestro, spoken thirty years ago to the author of these lines, remain relevant: "The only wish is for this event not to lose its significance. More than anything, I fear that the award ceremony will turn into some kind of ball, a party, and become uninteresting. As has already happened with other similar events."

In 1996, the award was given to the now-late saxophonist Ivars Birkan, who soloed in the Maestro's famous melody in "A Long Road in the Dunes"; later - to Laima Vaikule, but this is clearly an exception, as symphonic and chamber events are primarily recognized. Later, a nomination for jazz art appeared. Raimonds Voldemarovich himself also became a laureate.

Among the record holders of the award (having five to seven prizes each) are truly outstanding Latvian musicians. These include the opera singer Inga Kalna, who currently lives in Germany but regularly returns to her homeland for concerts, one of our leading composers Arturs Maskats, and the forty-year-old, but truly outstanding pianist Reinis Zarins.

Rinkevics Was Here

The names of the laureates in different nominations are usually announced at a ceremonial concert, which predominantly took place in the Opera – with live broadcasts on the first channels of Latvian television and radio.

It is lavish and beautiful, and as a rule, the hall is filled with the local elite. Even the President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, who does not often visit theaters, came to the sounds of music.

The organizers announced at a press conference held at the Ministry of Culture of Latvia that this time the award ceremony will take place on March 6 at 19:00 in the "Cesis" concert hall. They are expanding the geography, so to speak. And the hall, by the way, is excellent, built ten years ago - we recommend it.

A Luminary of Organ Music

And here are the laureates "for lifetime contribution". There are two of them (previously there was only one laureate, but a few years ago the jury managed to secure two awards in this nomination from the Ministry of Culture).

First of all, it is Larisa Bulava (1950) - an outstanding Latvian organist and educator, one of the leading figures of the Latvian organ music school. She was a professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music from 1992 to 2019 and raised many talented musicians.

Organist Larisa Bulava. Press photo.

Larisa also worked as an organist at the Riga Dome Cathedral and actively promoted Latvian music, performing works by Bach, other Baroque and Romantic composers, as well as new Latvian authors. She was the first performer of several contemporary works and collaborated with soloists, choirs, and orchestras in Latvia.

A Connoisseur of Counterpoint and Polyphony

And finally, Georgs Pelecis (1947) - a composer and musicologist, professor at the Latvian Academy of Music. By the way, he is a sincerely believing Orthodox Christian, who sang in churches from childhood in the choir and is still a parishioner of Orthodox churches.

Composer Georgs Pelecis. Press photo.

And by the way, he is a classmate of the outstanding violinist Gidon Kremer, who has long been awarded. Georgs's work encompasses chamber, choral, symphonic, and stage music, including works with religious themes, musical pictures of nature, and music reflecting the inner world of man.

Pelecis is known as a researcher of counterpoint and polyphony; his works have received international recognition, including the medal from the Rome International Center for scientific research on the traditions of multi-voiced vocal art. He has collaborated with leading musicians, including Kremer and Kremerata Baltica, and has actively developed music education, teaching at the Latvian Academy of Music for more than half a century.

Nominations for the Great Music Award

• "Young Artist of the Year",

• "Concert of the Year" (among the nominees is our outstanding opera singer with world fame Marina Rebeka),

• "For Outstanding Interpretation" (here figures Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, who headed the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra until last year, and singer Inna Klochkova for the lead role in Richard Strauss's opera "Salome"),

• "For Outstanding Performance of the Year" (and again Reinis Zarins is nominated!),

• "For Outstanding Work in an Ensemble",

• "New Work of the Year",

• "For Outstanding Achievement in Jazz",

• "For Lifetime Contribution" (organist Larisa Bulava and composer Georgs Pelecis).