Reinis Zarins Kreisleriana Octagon

Robert Schumann's ''Kreisleriana, op. 16'' is coupled with a world premiere recording of ''Octagon. Episodi e sonata'', a work written by Andris Dzenitis for pianist Reinis Zarins, a 2018 Artist in Residence at the Latvian Radio 3.

Andris Dzenitis will be familiar to audiences and critics due to his recent work ''Mara'' for Boston Symphony and Leiziger Gewandhaus premiered by Andris Nelsons. Dzenitis comments on Octagon: ''The cycle for piano unites contrasting impressions that I've gained from various experiences right here, from the colors and energies of my native land, as well as from my wanderings through Greece in a hot July and that country's culture, natural environment and soulfulness, which inspired several parts of the cycle. 'The composition's eight corners are made of seven miniatures, all of which gather around the eighth, a somewhat larger, energetic, sonata-like opus. Similarly, to the small, warm, colorful little houses, huts and squares in a medieval town each full of all sorts of different emotions, characters and understandings of life that are assembled around the majestic, hilltop cathedral or ruler's castle, which is, however, not always full of the most positive emotions. Such a visualization of the cycle could be related to Pieter Bruegel's painting The Tower of Babel the unstable remains of a tower on the banks of a body of water and a colorful, unusual city strewn with many different forms.

Since his concerto debut at the age of ten, pianist Reinis Zarins has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist throughout Europe and North America. Equally at home in classical and contemporary repertoire, his passion lies in the creation of programmes and interpretations that explore the deeper reasons and purposes behind the music, and to share them with his audiences. Laureate of 11 international competitions, Zarins has appeared in various music festivals, including Lucerne Festival, Bath International Music festival and Scotia Festival of Music. His thoughtful virtuosity has gathered audiences in Wigmore hall in London, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, New York's Weill Recital hall in Carnegie hall, and Tchaikovsky Concert hall in Moscow. Zarins has collaborated with leading orchestras, like Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, and conductors Pierre Boulez, Pablo Heras-Casado and Diego Masson, among others.

Also on SKANI:
LMIC065 Liepaja Concerti II, LIVE Andris Dzenitis: Piano concerto ''Duality'' (V. Shimkus, Liepaja Symphony Orcehstra) LMIC059 Chamber Symphonies Andris Dzenitis: Sin(Fonietta), Sinfonietta Riga, N.Sne LMIC056 Lucija Garuta: Music for Piano, Reinis Zarins