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Born: March 30, 1922 - Riga, Latvia
Died: October 15, 2011 - Baldone, Latvia |
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The Latvian choral conductor, Jānis Dūmiņš, was from 1950 until 1994 Professor at the Latvian Music Academy; from 1995 to 2000 Riga Teacher Training and Management School Professor. From 1949 to 1953 he was Artistic Director of the State Choir; from 1953 to 1960 - the chief conductor. Since 1962 he is Aristic Director of the young choir “Rīga”, now “Sen- Rīga”, an international choir competition winner.
Since 1955 Jānis Dūmiņš was 11 times Chief Conductor of the 1955 General Latvian Song Festival ; and since 1965 6 times Chief Conductor of the Latvian School Youth Song Festival.
J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) was first performed in Riga on December 15, 1956. The Latvian SSR (today Republic of Latvia) Merited body of Singers, Latvian State Academic Choir (today SAC "Latvia"), the boys' choir of the E.Darzins Special Music School for Children, a group of vocalists from the Latvian SSR State Opera and Ballet Theatre and from the State Philharmonic Society as well as the Latvian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jānis Dūmiņš took part in this performance. It was an outstanding event that outgrew the usual framework of musical life in Latvia. Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) with this cast of performers was presented and won great acclaim in Moscow as well as in major culture centers of Siberia, the Caucasus, the Byelorussia, the Moldavia, and the Ukraine. The passages of this composition are featured in part of the live recording made at the Moscow State Conservatory Great Hall with the participation of the Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra. |
