Aivars Kalējs

Aivars Kalējs
Born April 22, 1951
Riga, Latvia
Genres Classical music
Occupation(s) Organist, composer, pianist, improviser, musicologist
Instruments Organ, piano
Labels Edition Peters, Formblitz, Eres Edition, Musica Baltica, Melodiya, Riga Recording Company, Latvian Radio, Ritonis
Website aivarskalejs.webs.com

Aivars Kalējs (April 22, 1951, Riga, Latvian SSR) is a Latvian organist, composer and pianist.

Career

He is a concert organist at the Dome Cathedral in Riga [1] and chief organist for the New St. Gertrudes Lutheran Church. He has performed solo recitals and toured with various ensembles throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, included participating in dozens of international organ festivals in the US, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Estonia. Plays in prestigious venues (Notre Dame de Paris), performs classical repertoire, own compositions and improvisations. Performing concerts as a soloist and a great ensemble partner, he successfully gained an international recognition. Up to 2004, he has recorded six solo CDs and participated in 34 CD recordings,[2] including as chief organist for the Riga Dome Boys' Choir.[3]

He has collaborated with such conductors as Andris Nelsons, Māris Sirmais, Andres Mustonen, Pierre Cao, Sigvards Kļava and Imants Kokars. For many years he has playing duos with soprano opera singer Inessa Galante and legendary French horn player Arvids Klisans.

As a composer, his pieces have been played in organ concerts around the world (Toccata on the Chorale "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" and "Lux aeterna") and have won several composition awards (symphonic work "Musica Dolente" - dedicated to the victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001).[4][5] His works are included in many CD's of the great musicians and collectives (Iveta Apkalna, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra)

He studied under Ādolfs Skulte, Nikolajs Vanadziņš and Lūcija Garūta.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Elizabeth Celms (28 July 2004). "Riga's most precious symbol in Jeopardy". Baltic Times. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  2. ↑ Musica Baltica Ltd. - the major publisher in Latvia for Latvian music
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Aivars Kalējs (organ, Latvija)". concert.ee. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Aivars Kalējs". Musica Baltica. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Iveta Apkalna at Davies Symphony Hall". San Francisco Symphony. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2011.

External links

Scores

CD