Antra and Normunds Viksne - the best know Latvian piano duo of the moment, awarded the Grand Music Prize of Latvia.
Antra and Normunds Viksne began their professional career as piano duo in 1997. Both artists received their Master's degrees in piano duo performance from the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music, where they studied with professors Gunta Sproge and Maris Svinka. Later, they participated in master classes taught by professors Hose Ribera (Denmark), Liisa Pohjola (Finland) and Helmut Ohlaf (Germany).
They have performed in many international chamber music festivals (Pro Baltica, Mariu Klavirai, Saxopfonia, Siauliai Piano Duo Festival, Piano Stars Festival, and others.), often premiering music by contemporary Latvian composers, such as Vasks, Zemzaris, Karlsons, Kalsons, Mence, Aperans, Mezaraups, Vecumnieks.
Numerous recordings produced by the Latvian Radio and Television studios reflect the wide range of the Viksnes' musical repertoire, which includes works by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Messiaen, Kenins, Takemitsu, Bergman, Adams etc. Their recording of Selga Mence's "Songs" received in the International Rostrum Composers' Award in 2000.
They were awarded First Prize in the 1st International Piano Duo Competition in Lithuania in 1997. In 2001 they were finalists of the Pro Piano (New York) International Competition in New York and recipients of the distinguished Grand Music Prize of Latvia for the Latvians composers premieres and concerts in Latvia and abroad. There were most famous musicians M.Rostropovitch, B.Skride, A.Maskats awarded Grand Music Prize of Latvia in 2001.
Piano duo Antra and Normunds Viksne and have performed at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Merkin Concert Hall in New York, Sibelius Academy of Music, Helsinki Opera, Chopin Museum in Warszawa, Nybrokajen 11 in Stockholm, California Institute of Arts, State University of Music and Performing Arts Stutgart Concert Hall and other notable concert halls in Europe, the Baltic States, Russia and North America.
Antra Viksne was born in Riga, Latvia. She studied piano with professor Arnis Zandmanis at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music and graduated with a degree in piano performance. In addition to her teaching and duties as Head of Piano Department at the specialized Jazeps Medins School of Music, she is also an accompanist at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music.
Normunds Viksne was born in town of Plavinas, Latvia. He graduated from professors Ventis Zilberts' piano class at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. Currently, he is a Professor and a Head of the Compulsory Piano Department at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. As the accompanist of the Jazeps Medins School of Music Boys' Choir he has toured throughout Europe, the U.S. and South Africa.
|
|
|
