July 08, 2010
The Rīga-based youth choir Mūza, the history of which goes back to 1947, has released it latest album. Titled Immortal, the album was recorded in March and April in the Rīga Reformation Church (Rīgas Reformātu baznīca).
The album, according to a press release from the choir, includes two Renaissance works, Gregorio Allegri’s “Miserere Mei” and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s “Sicut Cervus.” Also on the album is contemporary American composer Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” works by Latvian composers Raimonds Tiguls and Andris Dzenītis, and “Immortal Bach,” a piece by Knut Nystedt.
Soloists on the album are Laura Baumane, Sniedze Prauliņa, Jurģis Cābulis, Uģis Menģelis and Līga Priede, while the choir conductors are Rihards Rudzītis and Guntis Cimiņš.
According to its website, www.korismuza.lv, the choir began with the long name “LPSR Arodbiedrību Centrālās Padomes strādnieku centrālā kluba jauktais koris,” essentially a workers’ club mixed choir. Its director for many years was Leonīds Vīgners (1906-2001). The choir was reformed in 1999 as a youth choir. Today the choir has more than 30 members.
Besides it official website, Mūza also has pages on MySpace, draugiem.lv and ReverbNation.
Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.
