Sinfonietta Rīga Artistic Director
Normunds Šnē
I believe that my work as a conductor has enabled me to understand the importance of finding a balance between the rational and the emotional. You can be as emotional as you like, but the orchestra may not respond. I dislike ostentation and disagree with the notion that a conductor has to put on a show – in my opinion the conductor is there to help the orchestra perform.
I think that any performance is a message, which each member of the audience must decipher. No work will have the same effect on all people - and that is the highest form of democracy, because everyone is entitled to his own interpretation. At the same time listening requires skill. The listener must be as open to the performance as the musician is to the score in front of hiI think that any performance is a message, which each member of the audience must decipher. No work will have the same effect on all people - and that is the highest form of democracy, because everyone is entitled to his own interpretation. At the same time listening requires skill. The listener must be as open to the performance as the musician is to the score in front of him.
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Education: |
Studied the oboe and conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music |
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Teachers: |
Vilnis Pelnēns, Heinz Holliger, Tamara Fidler, Yuri Simonov, Jorma Panula and Imants Resnis |
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Oboist: |
Since 2007 – professor of oboe at the Latvian Academy of Music |
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Conductor: |
Since 2006 – Artistic Director of the State Chamber Orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga” |
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Other experience: |
Oboist, guitar-player and sound engineer for the progressive Latvian rock bands “Salve”, “Sīpoli”, “Pērkons” and “Marana” |
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Performed together with: |
Peter Donahoe, Isabelle Faust, Martin Fröst, Patrick Gallois, David Geringas, Tatyana Grindenko, Natalia Gutman, Gidon Kremer, Christian Lindberg, Truls Mjørk, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Terje Rypdal, Mstislav Rostropovich, Joe Zawinul and others |
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Performances outside Latvia: |
Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden |
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Recordings: |
20 CDs, produced by various record companies including ECM, BIS and BMG/Connifer |
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Awards: |
Six-time recipient of the Latvian Great Music Award under different nominations |
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Hobby: |
Passionate amateur radio operator (callsign YL3DQ), 1980 world champion, 2nd place in the 2006 European Championship, Member of the Board of the Latvian Amateur Radio League |
