MUSCAT: Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer and his musical ensemble the Kremerata Baltica will take listeners on a musical journey through the four seasons when they play at the Royal Opera House Muscat on October 30.

The concert will include music by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, and American composer Philip Glass, all focusing on the theme of the four seasons. Kremer and his ensemble will begin with Vivaldi’sConcerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 8, RV 315, “L’estate”, better known as “Summer,” from his famous Four Seasons, in a version for vibraphone and strings. This will be followed by Piazzolla’s Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires), arranged for violin and strings. The final piece is Glass’s Violin Concerto No. 2 “The American Four Seasons,”a modern piece that lets listeners decide for themselves which season is being depicted by what music, and one that will include a multimedia visual component.

“What is great about Gidon Kremer is that he’s a fabulous musician, and he hand-selected the Kremerata Baltica. This program is also interesting because many composers wrote about the four seasons, not just the most recognise, Vivaldi,” said ROHM’s Director General Christina Scheppelmann.

Born in Riga, Latvia in 1947, Gidon Kremer is one of the best violinists in the world today. By the time he was a teenager he was winning major European music awards, and he has gone on to record over 120 albums. His recordings have won numerous accolades, including the 2001 UNESCO Prize and in 2011 he was awarded the “Una Vita Nella Musica - Artur Rubinstein” prize, which is considered the Nobel Prize for music.

The Kremerata Baltica was formed by Gidon Kremer in 1997 as a birthday present to himself when he turned 50 years old. Thechambre orchestra brings together musicians from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the three Baltic states. In addition to giving himself a wonderful gift to celebrate his milestone birthday, Kremer also wanted a way to pass on his musical knowledge. The orchestra quickly became well-known internationally for their joyful and energetic approach to playing music.

Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica will perform for one night only on Thursday, October 30 at7:30pm.
2014