Jānis Kalniņš: Violin Concerto in F-sharp minor (1945)

Jānis Kalniņš

 (3 November 1904 in Pärnu – 30 November 2000 in Fredericton)

was a Latvian Canadian composer and conductor.

Violin Concerto in F-sharp minor (1945)  

I. Allegro moderato 0:00
II. Adagio con espressione 9:23
III. Allegro giocoso 20:51

Laura Zarina, violin
Canadian Opera Company Orchestra
Maris Sirmais, conductor

Jānis Kalniņš was born of Latvian parents in Pernu, Estonia on November 3, 1904. His father Alfreds was both a gifted composer and one of the truly great organists of Czarist Russia. Jānis initially learned piano and organ from his father, and he was considered a child prodigy on both instruments. From 1922 to 1924 Jānis studied conducting and composition at the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga under Jāzeps Vitols, a former pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. During these years, he also studied composition, piano, and voice in France, Germany and Italy. After graduating from the Conservatory, Jānis studied conducting both with Erick Kleiber in Salzburg, and with Harmann Abenroth and Leo Blech in Berlin. From 1923 to 1933, Kalniņš served as the conductor and musical director of the Latvian National Theatre in Riga. In 1933 he was appointed conductor of the Latvian National Opera in Riga (a position that had formerly been held by Richard Wagner and by Bruno Walter). He remained with the Opera for 11 years, but spent 1944-1947 in camps for Displaced Persons inside Germany. Kalniņš immigrated to Canada in 1948, working initially as the organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's United Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 1951 Kalnins took up two new appointments. The first was as Professor of Music at Fredericton’s Teachers' College. By the time he retired from that position 20 years later, Professor Kalniņš had taught more than 700 students. The second appointment was as conductor of the Fredericton Civic Orchestra. In 1959 he joined the Saint John Symphony Orchestra and was an important part in the evolution of this group into the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra in 1961. At that time Kalniņš was appointed Principal Conductor. Before 1948, Kalniņš served as a guest conductor for many operatic and symphony orchestras in Sweden, Germany, and Poland. After 1948, he performed the same service throughout the US and Canada (e.g., Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toronto, Windsor, and London). Kalniņš received a variety of awards throughout his career. In 1937 he was inducted into the Gustav Vasa Order by the King of Sweden. In 1938 he was inducted into the Three Star Order by the State of Latvia. In 1966 he was awarded the First Prize in Music by the Latvian National Federation. In 1981 he received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Mount Allison University, as well as the Bourque-Manney Award for the Performing Arts. In 1984 the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick presented him with the New Brunswick Award for Excellence in the Arts. on his 80th birthday, Dr. Kalniņš’ contribution to the development of music in Canada was honored through a gala concert that was organized by Toronto's Latvian community. Another concert in his honor took place in Chicago one week later, and a third tribute concert took place in New York the following month. As part of the year's celebrations, President Ronald Reagan sent Dr. Kalniņš a congratulatory letter on October 19, 1984. on his next birthday, Dr. Kalniņš was honored with a tribute concert in his home city of Fredericton. The program consisted entirely of Kalniņš' own compositions, which were performed by renowned artists. The evening's speakers included the province’s Premier, Richard Hatfield. CBC Radio broadcast this concert twice in January 1986. Later that year, proceeds from the 1985 Toronto concert were used to create an annual Dr. Jānis Kalniņš Award at Mount Allison University. Dr. Kalniņš died on November 30, 2000 in Fredericton N.B.