Starptautiskais Garīgās mūzikas festivāls šovasar izskanēs 25 gadu jubilejas zīmē, solot daudzveidīgu koncertu virkni no 13. augusta līdz pat 8. septembrim. Par festivāla notikumiem, viesiem un tā programmu stāsta Valsts akadēmiskā kora "Latvija" mākslinieciskais vadītājs Māris Sirmais.

Māri, vai atceries pirmo festivālu 1998. gadā, jo nu jau mēs runājam par divdesmit piekto?

Teikšu godīgi – neatceros. Vairāk tikai atceros sajūtas, motivācijas, kāpēc šis festivāls vispār tika organizēts.

Un tas tika organizēts neilgi pēc tam, kad kļuvi par Valsts akadēmiskā kora „Latvija” māksliniecisko vadītāju.

Jā, tā laikam sanāk. Tolaik Rīgā vasaras periodā bija milzīgi liels tukšums un pilsēta pilna ar ārzemniekiem, tūristiem, izņēmums bija tikai kādi provinces, mazpilsētas svētki. Tolaik tā šķita ļoti pašsaprotama lieta – koncertdzīvei un teātriem sezonas beigušās un nu ir atpūtas pauze, nebija tik daudz festivālu, kādi notiek tagad. Motivācija tīri simboliski bija 15. augusts, kad Aglonā bija lielie Debesbraukšanas svētki, tad mēs arī savienojām augusta otro pusi līdz pat septembrim, un tāds tas stāsts tradicionāli ir jau 25 gadu garumā. Bet programmu ir bijis ļoti daudz un dažādas, ka vēl tagad dažkārt brīnos, pārlasot to vēstures stāstu.

Tāpat arī viesi. Kādas tik personības nav bijušas šo 25 gadu laikā – Arvo Perts, Gija Kančelli, Džons Taveners, Kšištofs Pendereckis, te varētu turpināt un turpināt.

Tā jau ir sava veida tradīcija.  Festivālā bija  tādi tradīciju stūrakmeņi, kurus mēs esam centušies vairāk vai mazāk saglabāt. Protams, šodien vispār priecē, ka mēs varējām to risināt tādā formā, kā tas šobrīd izskatās un veidojas, ņemot vērā iepriekšējo pāris gadu pieredzi, bet pat ar visu to festivāls notika. Laimējās, ka visi šie sarežģītie apstākļi ar lokdauniem un visu pārējo, bija ārpus vasaras sezonas.

Tradīcijas ir vairākas – lielas personības mūzikas pasaulē, kas tradicionāli bija mūsu viesi, dažādi ārzemju diriģenti, un arī visplašākais spektrs, visi iespējamie sastāvi, un, protams, jaundarbu koncerts.

It kā tik daudz kas izdzīvots pa šiem 25 gadiem, paralēli simtgadēm un visam pārējam, bet tas tomēr, manuprāt, bija ļoti gaidīts notikums.

Jaundarbu koncerts arī ir tradīcija jau no pašiem pirmsākumiem?

Jā, no pašiem pirmsākumiem. Nedaudz tikai mainījusies jaundarbu forma. Sākotnējā iecere bija dot iespēju izciliem latviešu komponistiem rakstīt lielas formas darbus – tādi žanri kā mesas, rekviēmi, oratorijas tomēr nav tik ikdienišķa parādība. Un, tā kā Valsts koris, procentuāli skatoties mūsu repertuārā, galvenokārt ir lielo formu izpildītājs, tas neapšaubāmi bija likumsakarīgi. Bet laika gaitā mēs formu nedaudz mainījām – lielās formas pieprasa ļoti lielu izpildītāju sastāvu un šķita, ka šos darbus pēc tam ir daudz grūtāk vēl kaut kur atskaņot. Tad mēs pārgājām uz tādu, zināmā mērā, pat interesantāku formu, jo tagad šajos koncertos ir trīs, četri, pat pieci komponisti, lai būtu dažādība – mēs dodam vairāk iespēju un darbu apjoms ir nedaudz sašaurināts.

Jā, jaundarbu koncerts nav pirmais koncerts festivālā šogad. Tas būs 18. augusts, Rīgas Doms. Man šķiet, ka vismaz pēdējos gados jūs esat ļoti drosmīgi, uzticot jaundarbus rakstīt arī varbūt ne tik labi zināmiem komponistiem, jaunajiem komponistiem, un tad nu tālāk dzīve rāda, kā tie iedzīvojas – vai tie ir tādi viendienīši, vai tie tiešām kļūst par dzīvotājiem. Šoreiz arī nevaru teikt, ka ir visiem labi zināmi vārdi, kurus jau nosaucot ir skaidrs, kas tur skanēs.

Tā arī ir šīs programmas atslēga un pamatideja. Piemēram, šogad piedāvāsim divus jaunos komponistus – Laumu Kazaku, kas salīdzinoši nesen  beigusi Mūzikas akadēmiju, un Jēkabu Bernātu, kurš vēl šobrīd studē kompozīcijas nodaļā. Šī komponistu izvēle arī nav bijusi nejauša –

pandēmijas laikā mēs gribējām darīt kādu labu darbu, tāpēc piedāvājām sadarbību Mūzikas akadēmijas kompozīcijas nodaļai – dot iespēju studentiem šajā tukšajā periodā, kad studenti un pašdarbības kolektīvi nevarēja strādāt, rakstīt darbus un tos atskaņot koncertā.

No visiem šiem komponistiem, kuru vidū bija tiešām daudz talantīgu autoru, divi korim bija īpaši simpātiski, un tā mēs nonācām pie Jēkaba Bernāta un Laumas Kazakas uzaicinājuma uz šo festivālu. Manuprāt, brīnišķīga iespēja jaunajiem sevi pieteikt. Vēl viens autors, kas Latvijā, visticamāk, ir mazpazīstams, bet ir guvis fenomenālu izglītību un piedalās dažādos starptautiskos sastāvos, ir Raivis Misjuns. Raivis teica, ka ļoti vēlas rakstīt lielu darbu lielam korim, mēs satikāmies un tā šī sadarbība sākās. Vēl divi vārdi, kas Latvijas koncertdzīves sekotājiem vairs neprasa nekādus komentārus, ir Jēkabs Jančevskis un Rihards Dubra.

Un šis būs koncerts, kurā pie diriģenta pults būs Māris Sirmais, kurš, protams, zina pastāstīt arī par citiem koncertiem. Festivāla atklāšana būs ar angļu garīgo mūziku un viesdiriģentu Džeremiju Bekhausu. Vai esat pazīstami, iepriekš tikušies?

Džeremiju Bekhausu personīgi neesmu saticis. Viņš mums ir ieteikts, esam dzirdējuši viņa ierakstus, esam informēti par viņa radošo darbību, viņš ir viens no vadošajiem kordiriģentiem Anglijā. Šis ielūgums viņam ir ildzis vismaz 3 gadus, bet dažādu pandēmijas laika apsvērumu dēļ tas bija jāpārceļ.

Bet nu esam ļoti priecīgi par to, ka festivāls sāksies 13. augustā Doma baznīcā, kur šī diriģenta vadībā izskanēs liela un plaša angļu mūzikas programma kopā ar ērģelnieku Aivaru Kalēju.

Man, personīgi, daudzus gadus nav bijusi izdevība sadarboties ar Aivaru Kalēju – savulaik esam daudz kopā koncertējuši, bet pēdējos gados nē, tā kā prieks atkalsatikties ar viņu, turklāt šādā kompānijā.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Ļoti jauki, ka jūs dodat vārdu ne vien jaunajiem komponistiem, bet arī jaunajiem diriģentiem, šajā gadījumā – diriģentei. Būs ļoti intriģējoši, kā ar Valsts akadēmisko kori „Latvija” kopā muzicēs Krista Audere.

Jā, par Kristu un viņas starptautiskajiem panākumiem man ir milzīgs prieks. Nevaru nepieminēt arī to, ka Krista savulaik dziedāja „Kamēr...”, tā kā es viņu pazīstu jau kopš skolas vecuma. Programma balstīsies uz J.S. Baha, J. Brāmsa un F. Mendelszona motetēm, būs arī Olivjē Mesiāna mūzika, bet, par cik viens koncerts ar šo programmu skanēs arī Liepājā, iekļāvām arī liepājnieku lepnumu – komponistu Agri Engelmani.

Vēl viena no lielajām intrigām, protams, ir Ģerģa Ligeti Rekviēma pirmatskaņojums Latvijā ar Andri Pogu pie diriģenta pults un solistēm Jerī Sū un Virpi Raisanenu. To dzirdēsim 31. augustā kopā ar Olivjē Mesiāna un Aleksandra Cemlinska mūziku. Bet nu esam aizrunājušies līdz noslēguma koncertam – Māri, vai plānojat festivālu arī noslēgt simboliskā zīmē?
 

Jā, tas laikam ir diezgan likumsakarīgi. Godīgi sakot, pēdējais koncerts diezgan ilgi „karājās gaisā”,  bet ar visiem notikumiem, kas risinās kopš pavasara, bija diezgan skaidrs, ka mūsu mērķis būs popularizēt ukraiņu mūziku. Mūsu pārliecību stiprināja arī fakts, ka

mūsu korī šobrīd dzied divi brīnišķīgi ukraiņu dziedātāji, līdz ar to mums ir liela palīdzība attiecībā uz ukraiņu valodu. Noslēguma koncerta mākslinieciskais vadītājs un programmas veidotājs ir Oleksandrs Vaceks.

Oleksandru es pazīstu ārkārtīgi ilgus gadus un uzskatu viņu par vienu no ukraiņu kormūzikas un kultūras kopumā simboliem. Brīnišķīgs cilvēks, brīnišķīgs interprets. Pie Valsts akadēmiskā kora „Latvija” viņš stāsies pirmoreiz, un viņš tam pieiet ar milzīgu atbildības sajūtu.

Tā arī esam pieskārušies visiem festivāla notikumiem. Māri, paldies par šo stāstu, un lai priecīgi svētki – vienalga, trīspadsmitais, divdesmitais vai divdesmit piektais gads.

Paldies, tie neapšaubāmi ir svētki, ciparam pat nav tik lielas nozīmes.