Contemporary music from Berlin arrives in Cēsis with a concert program centered around Latvian composer Jānis Petraškevičs’ work “That Which Was Here Before”, written for two percussionists and ensemble. The piece is dedicated to percussionists Guntars Freibergs and Juris Āzers, the ensemble unitedberlin, and conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Its world premiere will take place at the Konzerthaus Berlin, followed by the Latvian premiere in Cēsis.
The program also features works by Anton Webern, Pierre Boulez, and other contemporary composers.
Founded in 1989, unitedberlin symbolizes the renewed connection between musicians in the formerly divided Berlin. Since then, the ensemble has performed at major music festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Warsaw Autumn, Venice Biennale, Milano Musica, Steirischer Herbst, Berliner Festwochen, Slowind in Ljubljana, and the Tehran Contemporary Music Days, alongside its regular performances in Berlin.
Since the early 1990s, unitedberlin has collaborated with internationally acclaimed conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Under his artistic advisory leadership from 2015 to 2019, the ensemble was in residence at Konzerthaus Berlin.
Vladimir Jurowski is the chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, and one of the most highly regarded conductors in the world.
For several years, Latvian percussionist Juris Āzers has been a member of unitedberlin. The upcoming concert in Cēsis marks the third program he and Guntars Freibergs will present as resident artists of the “Cēsis” Concert Hall.
