Latvian conductor
Kaspars Putniņš has been one of the most visible figures in the resurgence of choral music in the Baltic countries. He has been the permanent conductor of the
Latvian Radio Choir since 1994. In 2014 he added the artistic directorship and the chief conductor post of the
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir to those responsibilities, and he established the Tenso Europe Chamber Choir, a youth ensemble with a rotating membership. He modeled the group on Western European youth choirs and served as its conductor from 2013 to 2017, continuing to make conducting appearances there afterward. He has also worked with Western European youth choirs, including the Bachakademie Stuttgart, Vocaal Talent, and Meesters & Gezellen, leading performances and giving master classes to young conductors.
Putniņš was born in Riga, Latvia, on October 26, 1966. He has appeared widely in Western Europe as well as the Baltic countries, conducting such groups as the
RIAS Kammerchor,
NDR Radio Choir Hamburg, SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart,
Swedish Radio Choir,
Danish National Vocal Ensemble and
Choir, and the
Netherlands Radio Choir. The 2017-2018 season saw him make return visits to the
Swedish Radio Choir and
NDR Radio Choir Hamburg, and he led the
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir on a tour of Brussels, London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dortmund.
Putniņš has performed choral music from periods dating back to the Renaissance, but he has specialized in the commissioning and realization of new choral music.
Putniņš has especially developed relationships with Baltic and Nordic composers such as Maija Einfelde, Mārtiņš Viļums, Gundega Šmite,
Toivo Tulev, Lasse Thoresen, and Andris Dzenitis, as well as
Gavin Bryars, and has set standards with his interpretations. He has also made several acclaimed recordings with the
Latvian Radio Choir for BIS and other labels. In 2017 BIS released his recording of
Alfred Schnittke's Psalms of Repentance. He has also recorded
Rachmaninov's The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with the
Flemish Radio Choir for the Glossa label, and BIS issued his
Rachmaninov Vespers with the
Netherlands Radio Choir.
Putniņš has been awarded the Latvian Grand Prix of Music and the Latvian Council of Ministers Award for Achievements in Culture and Science.