For those unaware, Sebastian Bohren’s world-premiere recording of In Evening Light, the second violin concerto by Peteris Vasks, comes 25 years after the celebrated Latvian composer’s first, Distant Light, one of the most successful, oft-performed and recorded concertos by a living a composer.

In Evening Light seems certain to follow in its forebearer’s footsteps, destined to become another modern classic.

In Evening Light - a three-movement, 38-minute work - is beautiful and contemplative, evoking a twilit world immersed in muted colors and permeated with deep shadows and dramatic contrasts.

The album ends as it begins, with another atmospheric Vasks work. Lonely Angel is an homage to his late mother who lived through practically the whole of the 20th century.

The composer explains, This piece is the vision of an angel flying alone above humankind, filled with grief at how cruel and aggressive we are to each other. Like a guardian angel he touches the earth with his wings and in that way offers us comfort and healing.

Sandwiched in between is the contrasting, classical era Rondo in B minor by Franz Schubert, arranged for violin and strings. Preceding Vasks’ works by nearly two centuries, Schubert similarly revels in exploring ambiance and spaciousness.

1. Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2 Vakara gaisma (In Evening Light): I Andante con passione - Cadenza I.
2. Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2 Vakara gaisma (In Evening Light): II Andante cantabile - Cadenza II.
3. Vasks: Violin Concerto No. 2 Vakara gaisma (In Evening Light): III Andante con amore
4. Schubert: Rondeau brillante in B Minor Op. 70, D895 (arr. for and strings by Paul Suits): I. Andante - II. Allegro
5. Vasks: Vientulais engelis (Lonely Angel) - Meditation for violin and string orchestra: I. Adagio

This masterful musical elegance opens on Vasks’ three-part Violin Concerto No. 2 Vakara gaisma (In Evening Light): I Andante con passione - Cadenza is a _____________ of art, II Andante cantabile - Cadenza II moves like ____________ throughout and the works culminate in the ____________ of III Andante con amore.

Along next is Schubert’s Rondeau brillante in B Minor Op. 70, D895 (arr. for and strings by Paul Suits): I. Andante - II. Allegro, which is a _____________ of a work, the recording overall coming to a close on the __________ of Vasks’ Vientulais engelis (Lonely Angel) - Meditation for violin and string orchestra: I. Adagio.

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