Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra (LSO) (Latvian: Liepājas simfoniskais orķestris) is an orchestra located in Liepāja, Latvia. The group is among the oldest orchestras in the Baltic States, and was begun at the same time as the first Philharmonic in the Baltic in 1883.
After World War II, the Orchestra was restarted under Liepaja Music college and conductor Valdis Vikmanis. In 1987, the orchestra became a legally independent organization.
Imants Resnis became the conductor and artistic direction in 1992, and he expanded the work and scope of the orchestra.
The LSO has toured outside the Baltic States, including trips to Spain (1993), Malaysia (1996),[1] Great Britain (1998), Sweden (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), Germany (1995, 1999), Austria (2004), Poland (2006, 2007).
Many significant recording projects have been made with Latvian Radio and TV, as well as many CDs have been released. Since 1993, an important tradition in Liepāja is its International Piano Stars Festival, which had gathered 152 pianists from 30 different countries.
LSO and Imants Resnis received in 2006 The Big Music Award for the W.A. Mozart opera „Die Entführung aus dem Serail”, for its concert activity and for the CD „ Awake, Psaltery and Harp” which was dedicated to Latvian classical music composer Andrejs Jurjāns' 150th anniversary.
In January 2010, control of the orchestra was asserted by the Ministry of Culture, and it became a "state" orchestra. With a brilliant debut in January 2010 at the podium of the chief conductor has entered talented Atvars Lakstīgala.
Starting during the 2009/2010 season, the principal guest conductor of LSO is the chief conductor of Berliner Symphoniker Lior Shambadal.