Pre-concert Talks on Bach’s Music to be Held at “Great Amber” Concert Hall

On Sunday, October 27 at 17:00, before the concert by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, visitors to the Liepāja Concert Hall “Great Amber” are invited to attend an enlightening talk about Bach’s era, the orchestra, and the historical connections between its artistic director and Liepāja. The pre-concert talks will be led by the concert hall’s artistic director and music critic Orests Silabriedis, harpsichordist Ieva Saliete, who heads the Early Music Department at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and Dace Kārkla, director of the Liepāja Museum. The event will take place in the concert hall’s “Civita Nova” art space.

Over its 35-year history, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (FBO) has received numerous prestigious awards (including ECHO CLASSICS and the German Record Critics’ Award) and collaborated with leading specialists in the field. It was also the first Baroque orchestra to have the honor of opening the Salzburg Festival. Their performances are known for their expressive precision, wide vision, and refined enthusiasm. Having performed on the world’s largest stages, they will make their sole appearance in the Baltics in Liepāja. Ieva Saliete, who has previously performed with these musicians, will share her insights on the orchestra as a living organism during the pre-concert talks.

The concert will feature the magnificent cycle of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concertos,” one of the composer’s most important and beloved works. Written in 1721, the piece was dedicated to Christian Ludwig, the Margrave of Brandenburg and uncle of the King of Prussia, Friedrich I. It is considered to have been a diplomatic plea by Bach for a position in Berlin. Visitors will learn more about the various historical interpretations of this masterpiece from Orests Silabriedis.

One of the orchestra's artistic co-directors, the renowned violinist Gottfried von der Goltz, who will lead the Liepāja performance, is regarded as one of the top specialists in Dresden court Baroque music and the works of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sons.

Regarding Bach’s “Brandenburg Concertos,” it’s noteworthy that von der Goltz comes from a noble family of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Additionally, there is a significant connection to Liepāja, as his great-great-grandfather, Rüdiger von der Goltz, served as governor of Liepāja during a crisis in 1919. While he was successful in fighting the Bolsheviks, the general was highly opposed to the idea of Latvian independence and the Latvian Provisional Government. This topic will be discussed by Dace Kārkla, the director of the Liepāja Museum. During the talks, visitors will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

The concert “Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Bach’s ‘Brandenburg Concertos’” is organized by SIA “Lielais dzintars” with the support of the Liepāja Municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation. More information can be found at www.lielaisdzintars.lv. Tickets are available at the concert hall's information center, Biļešu Paradīze box offices, and online at www.bilesuparadize.lv.

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