Search - Peteris Vasks, Kriss Rusmanis, Riga Philharmonic Orchestra :: Vasks: Message

Good,but not more

Boris Joselovich | NESHER Israel | 12/22/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Where there is no emotion,there is no art",writes P.Vasks on his CD.Really,there is an abundance of emotions - sometimes naive,sometimes too pathetic,sometimes over-dramatic or kitchy,like in Cor Anglais.Nevertheles ,"Cantabile","Musica Dolorosa" and "Lauda" are worth your attention.I would call Peteris Vasks the most important composer to emerge from the former Soviet Union AFTER Arvo Part,Alfred Schnittke,Valentin Silvestrov,Sofia Gubaidulina , Edison Denisov and even Giya Kancheli."

Intensity and Inspiration

Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 08/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Vasks writes music that is at once both accessible and challenging, both minimalist and expansive. Not quite as pure as Pärt, not quite as dynamic as Kancheli, but rewarding and enjoyable in its own right, Vasks's music should strike a deeply responsive chord among those who enjoy the spiritually oriented music of the aforementioned composers. This CD contains five pieces in varying styles, each piece a remarkable composition exhibiting intensity and inspiration, culminating in Lauda, the final piece on the disk, a tour de force for full orchestra and a remarkable 20 minutes of compelling musical expression."