Work of the Week - Peteris Vasks: Credo

An expressive, direct and unspoilt sound world alongside the sounds of nature. Commissioned by the Bremen Philharmonic Society to close the "Bremer Zyklus", Credo, conducted by Markus Poschner, will receive its world premiere on Monday 26 April by the Philharmonic Orchestra Bremen. Bremer Zyklus' commissioning program started in 2007 with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' Das Rauschende der Farbe followed by Krzysztof Penderecki's Concerto for Horn and later Suspense by Christian Jost.

Credo embodies Vasks' musical response to the worldwide concerns of economical and political relations as well as the huge ecological problems we face. Talking about the new work, Vasks commented: "We live in a time in which intolerance and hate between people, nations and religions is on the increase. Ideals and established values are pushed away by the cult of consumption. What should a composer do in such time? In my opinion you’ve got the possibility to promote harmony, the existence of ideals and the power of love."

Conductor Markus Poschner also says in his own words: "His scores are written with his blood on the boil. He is a highly sensitive and intense musician and I am as excited as a child about seeing him again on his visit to the city. I am especially excited about his latest composition..."

A second performance will take place the day after in Bremen.

• Peteris Vasks - Profile
  
• Website of the Bremer Philharmoniker