Konzertdirektion Hörtnagel Berlin GmbH

Kaspars Putniņš Conductor Various countries

Kaspars Putniņš is permanent conductor of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1994. From the season 2014/15 he was appointed as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

The Latvian conductor regularly appears with the RIAS Kammerchor, NDR Radio Choir Hamburg, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Swedish Radio Choir, Danish National Vocal Ensemble and Choir and Netherlands Radio Choir. Future invitations will follow with NDR Chor Hamburg, RIAS Kammerchor, projects with EPCC at Festival de Wallonie, Liège September Festival among others.

Whilst Kaspars Putniņš’ work encompasses a wide range of choral repertoire from the polyphony of the Renaissance period through to romantic music, his foremost goal has always been to promote new outstanding choral music. He has forged close relationships with many Baltic and Nordic composers including, Maija Einfelde, Mārtiņš Viļums, Gundega Šmite, Toivo Tulev, Lasse Thoresen, Gavin Bryars and Andris Dzenitis and has set standards with his interpretations. Putniņš has initiated several drama projects in collaboration with visual and theatre artists.

His discography includes recordings of Peteris Vasks’ Mate Saule for BIS Records, Jonathan Harvey’s The Angels for Hyperion, works by Bryars, Vasks, Esenvalds, Maskats and Silvestrov, all with the Latvian Radio Choir as well as the CD New Latvian Harvest with contemporary Latvian music with the Latvian Radio Chamber Singers. He has also recorded Rachmaninov’s The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with the Flemish Radio Choir for Glossa. BIS Records released Rachmaninov Vespers with the Netherlands Chamber Choir.

In recent years, Putniņš has worked extensively with young singers and conductors in various projects and masterclasses, such as Bachakademie Stuttgart, Kurt Thomas course, Vocaal Talent and Meesters & Gezellen. From 2013-2017 he was Artistic Director of Tenso Europe Chamber Choir.

Kaspars Putniņš is recipient of the Latvian Grand Prix of Music and the Latvian Council of Ministers Award for Achievements in Culture and Science.

Season 2018/19

News

Kaspars Putnins conducts NDR Radio Choir

Kaspars Putnins conducts the NDR Radio Choir in Hamburg at its first performance at Grand Hall Elbphilharmonie on 20 November and on 21 November in

Lüneburg within the NDR festival "My Polish Heart". They perform music by Penderecki, Szymanowski and Roman Padlewski. NDR Kultur broadcasts the concert live: https://www.ndr.de/ndrkultur/programm/epg1482_display-all_date-2018-11-20.html

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir wins Gramophone Award 2018

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars Putnins were awarded the Gramophone Award in the category Choral for their album with music by Alfred Schnittke and Arvo Pärt at BIS Records.

Kaspars Putniņš conducts Swedish Radio Choir

Kaspars Putniņš conducts the Swedish Radio Choir in Stockholm, Engelbrekt Church on May 5 with music by Ravel/Gottwald, Debussy, Saint-Saens, Wikander, Sven-David Sandström and Daniel-Lesur.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir at Klangvokal Dortmund

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars Putniņš perform at Klangvokal Festival Dortmund on 20 May the programme Longing for the North presenting "Best of Arvo Pärt" pieces as well as sacred and folk songs by Cyrillus Kreek and Veljo Tormis.

Kaspars Putnins and EPCC on tour

Kaspars Putnins and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir are to perform A cappella concerts in Brussels on 28 January, London on 30 January, Dublin on 31 January, Amsterdam on 5/6 February featuring pieces by Ülo Krigul, Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Cyrillus Kreek, Galina Grigorjeva, Liisa Hirsch, Jonathan Harvey among others.

Kaspars Putnins returns to Swedish Radio Choir

Kaspars Putnins returns to conduct the Swedish Radio Choir for an A cappella concert in Stockholm on 29 April with a programme featuring Schumann, Toshio Hosokawa and Jonathan Harvey.

Kaspars Putnins conducts French programme in Tallinn

Kaspars Putnins presents a programme with the Crème de la crème of the French choral music of the 19 and 20^th century with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

in Tallinn on 20 February featuring works by Olivier Messiaen, Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Jean-Yves Lesur and Gabriel Fauré.

Kaspars Putniņš in Copenhagen

Kaspars Putniņš conducts the Danish National Vocal Ensemble in Copenhagen on 30 January and 1 February in two concerts. The programme contrasts Brahms’ Kanon op. 113, Schumann’s Die Lotusblume and Die Capelle with works by Guo Wenjing, Niels Gade, Toru Takemitsu and Toshio Hosokawa.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars Putniņš on tour in China

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and its new chief conductor Kaspars Putniņš are on tour in China from 25 October to 1 November. The programme of the

four concerts in Peking, Shanghai, Xuzhou and Jinan includes works by Arvo Pärt, Cyrillus Kreek, Veljo Tormis and Claude Debussy.

New recording of Rachmaninov's "All-night Vigil" under Kaspars Putniņš

Latvian conductor Kaspars Putniņš and the Netherlands Radio Choir have recorded Rachmaninov’s "All-Night Vigil" op. 37 for BIS Records: "A wonderful legato is unfold,

elegant, ruled lines, added by a closed vertical quality: it is impressive how compact and safe chordal effects are set…The recording is very compelling, especially in the elegant ability to fine difference (www.klassik.com, Matthias Lange, 31.05.2014).

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars Putninš

Press

CD review: Schnittke & Pärt with EPCC

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is a lyrical giant, with a dark basic sound, which very much appeals to the ensemble at Schnittke and also at Pärt. (...) Dynamically a huge palette is to be experienced, from the most delicate, extremely fine sounds to the eruptive break-out. As a collective the formation makes an impression in a wonderfully soft forte at the peak of Pärt's Magnificat or in some perfectly pointed Decrescendo. The voicing is fabulous. Not so many ensembles are as relaxed and controlled as the Estonians.

www.klassik.com.de, Dr. Matthias Lange, 03.02.2018

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under Kaspars Putnins creates Alfred Schnittke's 12 Penitential Psalms compelling and spellbinding. The choral sound is completely pure, effortlessly easy even in the heights. (...) The numerous solo parts let you hear what excellent voices are added to this overall sound. (...) Nunc Dimittis by Arvo Pärt flows quietly dark and mysterious, until "Lumen ad relevationem gentium",when it turns into the most radiant C sharp major. The choir remains soundable and not overdriven in the powerful fortissimo: top class of choir culture. This choir belongs in this formation to the best in the world.

www.klassik-heute.de, Rainer W. Janka, 02.02.2018
Diapason d'Or for Schnittke/Pärt CD

Superlative sound captures the fantastic dynamic range and textural quality of the EPCC, from ethereal to grainy fades. (...) As perfectly sung, the Magnificat of Arvo Pärt, work of a rare emotional density in a kind predisposing rather to magnificence, and his Nunc Dimittis offer complements of choice: concise, sober and yet captivating.

Diapason, Patrick Szernovicz, 2/2018
Kaspars Putnins and EPCC in New York celebrated

Under Kaspars Putnins' direction, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir sang with a shimmering, warm blend of voices and easy mastery (...) and present and illuminated in the range of piano to mezzoforte.

New York Classical Review, George Grella, 02.02.2017
CD with Rachmaninov's "All-Night Vigil" and the Netherlands Radio Choir

Kaspars Putnins’ multi-hued Vespers interpretation, backed to the hilt by the tonal heft of the Netherlands Radop Choir’s 68 professional singers, evokes the intensity of Russian Orthodox worship. This outstanding release, recommended without conditions, is crowned with Rachmaninov’s little-known early sacred concerto, an impassioned hymn to Mary, Mother of God, The Theotokos.

www.sinfinimusic.com, 15.05.2014
Traumsommernacht - A summer night's dream

The ChorWerk Ruhr under the direction of the Latvian conductor Kaspars Putniņš presented works from romantic folk songs by Johannes Brahms (op.62) up to contemporary works including bizarre sounds and demanding rhythms. […] Highlight of the evening was by surprise the contemporary piece “Traumtänze” by Hans Schanderl. Opposing rhythms and a great amount of vocal tones required everything of the 28 singers – provoking enthusiasm within the audience.

Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Anna Ernst, 30.07.2013

ChorWerk Ruhr with their young and sensitiv voices carried the audience away to the land of yearning, the presentiments of death, the coolness of a night in the wood... Kaspars Putniņš was working for the first time with the ChorWerk Ruhr and one was assured of his qualities.

Neue Ruhr/Neue Rhein Zeitung Essen, D. Schenk-Güllich, 31.07.2013
Rachmaninov: Vespers op. 37 at the Konzerthaus Berlin

The great Latvian conductor Kaspars Putniņš made the multilayed colours of this 15-part chorus cycle shine without any Russian pathos. High, low, deep, mighty, delicate - all was set together astonishingly - magical for instance the high male voices accompanying with much caution the low, endlessly streaming and intimate alto solo.

Berliner Zeitung, Peter Uehling, 19.02.2013
Nachtkonzert with the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir

Kaspars Putniņš conducted the MDR Radio Choir's late night concert with a sense for space, for sound and for the abilities of this unique choir especially with this unique programme. Everybody who had the chance to listen to this concert had to rejoice because the highest form of musical sensuality was achieved.

Leipziger Volkszeitung, 01/2012