For two decades, the name Normunds Šnē has been synonymous with the evolution of contemporary classical music in the Baltics. This May, the visionary conductor and oboist will step onto the podium for his final performances as the artistic director of Sinfonietta Rīga, the chamber orchestra he founded and nurtured into a world-class ensemble.
The upcoming tour, marking the conclusion of the orchestra’s 20th anniversary season, serves as a poignant swan song for a man who fundamentally reshaped the Latvian soundscape. Across three performances in Ventspils, Riga, and Rēzekne, Šnē will lead his musicians through a program that reflects his lifelong commitment to both local innovation and the grand European tradition.
A Legacy of Musical Ambition
When Šnē founded Sinfonietta Rīga in 2006, he filled a void in the national music scene, creating a flexible, creatively hungry collective capable of tackling the complexities of 20th and 21st-century scores. His departure marks the end of a specific era of Latvian cultural leadership. Before Sinfonietta, Šnē was already a legendary figure, having led the Riga Festival Orchestra and the ensemble Rīgas Kamermūziķi.
His tenure has been defined by a stubborn refusal to stick to the safe or the familiar. Under his baton, the orchestra has become a primary vehicle for the works of contemporary Latvian composers, ensuring that the nation’s musical output remains a living, breathing dialogue rather than a museum piece. This final tour continues that mission, featuring the world premiere of “Infinite Glistening Path” by Krista Auznieks, one of the most prominent voices of Latvia’s younger generation.
The Final Program: From Vasks to Schubert
The tour, titled after Auznieks’ new work, is a carefully curated reflection of Šnē’s artistic identity. Central to the program is Pēteris Vasks’ “Vox Amoris,” a fantasy for violin and strings that celebrates eternal love. Vasks, a long-time collaborator of both Šnē and the orchestra, represents the spiritual heart of Latvian music, and his inclusion here feels like a natural acknowledgement of a shared journey.
To provide a grand finale, the orchestra will perform Franz Schubert’s Ninth Symphony, known as the “Great.” It is a choice that offers a contrast to the contemporary works—a piece filled with romantic lyricism and a sense of uplifting joy, perhaps a fitting emotional resolution for a conductor closing a twenty-year chapter.
International Collaboration and Local Roots
Joining the orchestra for these final dates is the virtuoso Belgian violinist Marc Bouchkov. Known to London audiences for his performances at Wigmore Hall, Bouchkov brings an international prestige to the tour. His previous collaborations with Šnē and Vasks have been noted for their expressive intensity, and his presence highlights the orchestra’s standing on the European stage.
The tour begins on Thursday, May 21, at the Concert Hall “Latvija” in Ventspils, a venue known for its striking architecture and world-class acoustics. It then moves to the historic Great Aula of the University of Latvia in Riga on May 22, before concluding on May 23 at GORS, the Embassy of Latgale in Rēzekne.
For the Latvian diaspora and international fans of chamber music, these concerts represent a final opportunity to witness the specific chemistry between Šnē and the ensemble he built from the ground up. While the orchestra will continue, the departure of its founding architect is a moment of significant transition for the Baltic cultural scene.
Source: Ventspils valstspilsētas pašvaldība
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