Iveta Apkalna & State Choir LATVIJA
A must-hear concert of mesmerising choral music performed by the biggest professional choir in Latvia, where singing is lifeblood, with Iveta Apkalna on organ.
The warmth, beauty and purity of Latvian choral singing is on display tonight, steeped in the rich choral traditions of the country and the Orthodox church.
This concert brings together the biggest professional choir in the Baltic States with the multiple award-winning Iveta Apkalna, titular organist of the Klais organ at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany.
In the first half of the concert, we hear music from close to the choir’s home. Two spiritual works by Estonia’s Arvo Pärt set the scene, followed by Herr, bleib bei uns! by Latvian composer Rihards Dubra, who calls his music ‘a style of meditation’. Works by Dubra’s compatriot Pēteris Vasks continue the contemplative mood.
The centrepiece is Bach’s French-influenced Pièce d’orgue, where the bright opening gives way to a grand central movement before coming to a virtuosic close.
There’s also a spotlight on British music, with Elgar’s soaring ‘Nimrod’ from Enigma Variations, arranged for choir by John Cameron, and a special Purcell arrangement.
Thierry Escaich’s Evocation No.2 and Three Motets heighten the sense of drama, before the evening closes with Gardiner’s choral gem Evening Hymn.
Performers
State Choir LATVIJA
Iveta Apkalna organ
Repertoire
Arvo Pärt: Pari intervallo for organ; Nunc dimittis for chorus
Rihards Dubra: Herr, bleib bei uns! for chorus
Pēteris Vasks: Zīles ziņa (The tomtit's message) for chorus; Dona nobis pacem for chorus & organ
Interval
Bach: Fantasia in G (Pièce d'orgue), BWV.572
Elgar: Lux aeterna (Nimrod) from Enigma Variations arr. John Cameron for chorus
Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord for chorus arr. Sven-David Sandström
Thierry Escaich: Evocation No.2 for organ; 3 Motets for chorus & organ
Gardiner: Evening hymn for chorus & organ
Need to know
Please note significant changes to repertoire from originally advertised.
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
Box package
You can buy an exclusive box package for this event. More details of our Royal Festival Hall exclusive box package.
Reviews
‘The choir exhibits an extreme dynamic range, and yet at both ends of that spectrum its technical control never wavers’ Fanfare
‘Ravishing’ BBC Music Magazine
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.