Discovering Pēteris Vasks

P. Vasks, Piano Trio / Piano Quartet, A. Levitan, Trio Parnassus (Mdg, 2008)

Charles T. Downey, A composer lets his work do the talking
Washington Post, February 14

In the Leading European Composers series at the Phillips Collection, a composer has the opportunity to give a guided tour of his work. On Thursday evening, the podium was offered to the Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, but he declined to speak before the concert, pointing to the stage and saying, “No — my music.” Rather than more words, a quintet of Latvian musicians beautifully performed the composer’s selection of his chamber music.

The music said more than enough about this composer’s intensely mystical style, recalling... [Continue reading]

RIX Piano Quartet and Dita Krenberga (flute)
Leading European Composers: Pēteris Vasks
Phillips Collection