Iveta Apkalna
Iveta Apkalna is a Latvian pianist and organist.Biography
Iveta Apkalna studied piano and organ at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, graduating in both instruments with distinction in 1999. In 1999/2000 she continued piano studies at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
In 2003 she completed a three-year-long study in the organ soloist class of Ludger Lohmann at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, Germany. She has given concerts in the biggest and most famous churches and cathedrals of Europe and North America, taken part in the leading organ festivals and received numerous prizes in organ competitions. She regularly performs organ recitals at the Riga Cathedral. Her repertoire consists of organ music from J.S.Bach to contemporary composers thereby bringing it beyond the borders of church walls. In 1993 she was the official organist in service at Aglona basilica during the visit of Pope John Paul II. Since its opening in 2016, she has served as the principal organist of the Elbphilharmonie.Awards
- 2002 - winner of European Selection Round of the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Competition in London.
- 2002 - J.S.Bach prize at the World Competition of the Royal Bank Calgary International Organ Competition,.
- 2003 - winner of the 3rd Mikael Tariverdiev Organ Competition in Kaliningrad, Russia
- 2003, 2017 - Great Latvian Music Award
- 2005 - "ECHO-Klassik" prize in the category "Instrumentalist of the Year" for CD "Himmel & Hölle"
Discography
- 2003 - Iveta Apkalna Live
- 2004 - Touch down in Riga
- 2004 - Himmel & Hölle
- 2006 - Prima Volta
- 2007 - Noema - David Orlowsky Klezmorim
- 2008 - Trumpet and Organ
- 2009 - The New Organ of the Philharmonie Mercatorhalle Duisburg
- 2011 - L'Amour et la Mort
- 2012 - Walter Braunfels : Konzert für Orgel, Knabenchor & Orchester op.38
- 2012 - Leoš Janáček : Missa Glagolytica
- 2013 - Mariss Jansons conducts Brahms and Janacek
- 2015 - Iveta Apkalna - Bach & Glass
- 2018 - Light & Dark, First Solo Organ Recording from the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
- 2018 - Widmann: Arche, Marlis Petersen, Thomas E. Bauer, Iveta Apkalna, Kent Nagano, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg