The Latvian young women’s choir, Sapnis (Dream), will include my SSAA a cappella Beatus Vir on their concert of Latvian sacred music at St. Peter’s Church in Riga on November 11 at 7PM. This will be the first performance of the work in Latvia. Other composers on the program are Ingmars Zemzaris, Ilze Arne, Zigmars Liepiņs, Jāņis Lūsēns, and Rihards Dubra.
Since its founding in 1993, Sapnis has become one of the top choirs in Latvia, having received numerous national and international awards. Led by founding conductor Iveta Rīsmane and artistic director Baiba Danovska, Sapnis regularly performs in churches throughout Latvia and Europe (Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Italy and other countries). Devoted primarily to Latvian and foreign sacred music, their repertoire also includes Latvian and world folk music and classics. Additionally, Sapnis has established close working relationships with local contemporary composers, premiering works by Selga Mence, Georgs Pelēcis, Romualds Jermaks, Ilze Arne, Ansis Sauka, and Alvils Altmanis among others. Since 2003 “Sapnis” has participated in choir festivals and has performed concerts in Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Italy and other countries.