ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF EPCC
KASPARS PUTNIŅŠ
2016-12-31T22:00:00Z
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH, TALLINN, ESTONIA
ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR
CONDUCTOR – KASPARS PUTNIŅŠ
VIDEO – TAMMO SUMERA
Kaspars Putniņš started as an artistic director and chief conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in September 2014. He has been the conductor of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. In 1994, he formed the Latvian Radio Chamber Singers, an ensemble of soloists formed from the members of Latvian Radio Choir. He regularly appears as a guest conductor with leading European choirs such as the BBC Singers, RIAS Kammerchor, Berliner Rundfunkchor, NDR Kammerchor, Netherlands Radio Choir, Collegium Vocale Gent, Flamish Radio Choir and others.
Whilst Kaspars Putniņš work encompasses a wide range of choral repertoire from Renaissance polyphony to works of the Romantic period, his foremost goal has always been that of promoting new outstanding choral music. This new repertoire challenges and develops the abilities of his performers and takes their vocal sound to entirely uncharted territories.
His discography includes recordings of Peteris Vasks’ "Mate Saule" for BIS Records, Jonathan Harvey’s "The Angels for Hyperion", works by Bryars, Vasks, Esenvalds, Maskats and Silvestrov, all with the Latvian Radio Choir. He has also recorded Rachmaninov’s "The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" with the Flemish Radio Choir for Glossa, etc. In 2018 the CD recorded with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir "Schnittke – Psalms of Repentance. Pärt – Magnificat & Nunc dimittis" (BIS) won Gramophone Award.
Kaspars Putniņš has also initiated several theatrical projects, which involve the participation of his choir, in collaboration with visual and theatre artists. He often lectures and gives master classes internationally.
Kaspars Putniņš is the recipient of the Latvian Music Grand Prix (1998), the Latvian Council of Ministers Award for Achievements in Culture and Science (2000) and the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 4th Class, by the Estonian President (2019). He has been given the Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia for the devoted activity in the music life of Estonia (2019).
