Latvian Academy of Music
Encyclopedia
The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (VLMA), formerly Riga Conservatory, is the major higher learning music institution in Latvia. The junior institute is the Emils Darzins Music School
.
, who also became the first director of the Latvian National Opera
. He remained director till 1944, excepting 1935-1937 when the director was his choral assistant Pauls Jozuus.
(1944–1948), Jēkabs Mediņš (1948–1950), Jānis Ozoliņš (1951–1977), Imants Kokars (1977–1990), Juris Karlsons (1990–2007) and currently Artis Sīmanis (2007-).
During the republic the State Conservatory had only one Jewish professor of music, Adolf Metz - head of the violin department Many Jewish students emigrated to Lithuania.
Emils Darzins Music School
The Emils Darzins Music School is the junior music conservatory in Latvia, named after Emīls Dārziņš. The senior school is the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music , formerly Riga Conservatory,....
.
History
The State Academy of Music was founded in 1919 by the Latvian composer Jāzeps VītolsJazeps Vitols
-Biography:Vītols, the son of a schoolteacher, began his studies in composition in 1880 at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. After graduating in 1886, he remained at the Conservatory to teach composition and reached the rank of Professor in 1901. His pupils there...
, who also became the first director of the Latvian National Opera
Latvian National Opera
The Latvian National Opera , Riga, is the national opera of Latvia. The opera company includes the Latvian National Ballet , LNO Chorus, and LNO Orchestra.-History:...
. He remained director till 1944, excepting 1935-1937 when the director was his choral assistant Pauls Jozuus.
Notable Teaching staff
Rectors include Alfrēds KalniņšAlfrēds Kalniņš
Alfrēds Bruno Jānis Kalniņš was a Latvian composer, organist, pedagogue, music critic and conductor; the founder of national Latvian opera. Kalniņš is primarily remembered for his national opera Baņuta .- Course of life :Kalniņš took piano and violin lessons at an early age...
(1944–1948), Jēkabs Mediņš (1948–1950), Jānis Ozoliņš (1951–1977), Imants Kokars (1977–1990), Juris Karlsons (1990–2007) and currently Artis Sīmanis (2007-).
During the republic the State Conservatory had only one Jewish professor of music, Adolf Metz - head of the violin department Many Jewish students emigrated to Lithuania.
Notable Alumni
- Misha AlexandrovichMisha AlexandrovichMikhail Davidovich Alexandrovich was a Latvian tenor, and cantor, internationally acclaimed as a fine performer of classical and popular repertoire in several languages.-Biography:...
, cantor - Volfgangs DarzinsVolfgangs Darzins-References:...
- Sarah FeiginSarah FeiginSarah Feigin is a Latvian music educator and composer who lives and works in Israel.She was born in Latvia, and studied piano and composition at the Riga Conservatory of Music, graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees. She moved to Israel in 1972 and founded a Conservatory of Music in Holon...
- Elīna GarančaElina Garanca-Biography:Garanča was born in the Latvian city of Riga into a musical family, her father a choral director, mother a lieder singer and singing teacher. Her mother Anita is a professor at the Latvian Academy of Music, an associated professor at the Latvian Academy of Culture, a vocal music teacher...
, mezzo soprano - Inessa GalanteInessa GalanteInessa Galante is a Latvian soprano opera singer. Galante is known for a great beauty of tone, nuanced pianissimos and sensitive command of dynamics and colour...
, soprano
- Jānis IvanovsJanis IvanovsJānis Ivanovs was a Soviet Latvian classical music composer.In 1931, he graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga. In 1944, he joined the conservatory's faculty, becoming a full professor in 1955. He is regarded as being the most distinguished Latvian symphonist...
, composer - Arvīds Jansons
- Oleg KaganOleg KaganOleg Moiseyevich Kagan was a Soviet violinist, known for his chamber partnerships with the likes of pianist Sviatoslav Richter and cellist Natalia Gutman. He was also a significant proponent of modern music, in particular Berg's Violin Concerto...
, violinist - Gidon KremerGidon KremerGidon Kremer is a Latvian violinist and conductor. In 1980 he left the USSR and settled in Germany.-Biography:Kremer was born in Riga to parents of German-Jewish and Latvian-Swedish origins. He began playing the violin at the age of four, receiving instruction from his father and his grandfather,...
, violinist
- Raimonds PaulsRaimonds PaulsRaimonds Pauls is a Latvian and Soviet composer and piano player who is well-known and respected in Latvia and the former Soviet Union.-Music:...
- Uģis PrauliņšUģis PrauliņšUģis Prauliņš is a Latvian composer whose choral work Missa Rigensis was recorded by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Riga Cathedral Boys Choir and has been performed in several locations around the world, amongst those Canada, France, England.-Background:Uģis Prauliņš was born in...
- Aleksandrs ViļumanisAleksandrs ViļumanisAleksandrs Viļumanis is a Latvian conductor.Vilumanis studied percussion and conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music, being hired 1962 as a percussionist and conductor's assistant at the Latvian National Opera...
, conductor - Imants ZemzarisImants ZemzarisImants Zemzaris is a Latvian composer and teacher.His family is famous in Latvia due to his grandfather Janis Endzelins. A native of Riga, he studied in Emils Darzins Music School and Latvia State Conservatory with Adolfs Skulte. Among compositions are chamber and vocal music, as well as music for...