The Sound of Freedom

The album “The Sound of Freedom” is dedicated to Imants Kalniņš. In the 60s, the politically active composer, equally at home in classical music as well as rock music, become known as a symbol of youth. His compositions such as the Symphony n°4, which has been recorded for SKANI by the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra under Atvars Lakstīgala, seem like a fusion of the two genres. The CD furthermore features the concert for cello and orchestra by Kalniņš, with soloist Marta Sudraba, one of Latvia’s most successful and internationally renowned cellists.

The Fourth Symphony, written in 1973, is considered by many to be the first rock symphony composed in the Eastern Bloc.

After many years – in the eighties – Imants Kalniņš once again formed a rock group. Kalniņš sought broader and more direct opportunities to communicate with people. He wanted to join the efforts toward which society as a whole was focused upon. His music needed to be as objective as possible, free of expressions of self. And it was precisely rock that opened the door to this path. Because rock is direct. Rock is honest. Rock is one of our own. Rock is our ally. And rock addresses serious, even global matters.

Imants Zemzaris