Latvia can boast a truly impressive galaxy of musicians including conductors Mariss Jansons and Andris Nelsons, opera stars Elīna Garanča, Maija Kovaļevska and Egils Siliņš, composer Pēteris Vaska and pianist Vestards Šimkus. However, in order for stars to be born, one needs a universe full of music. And this is what Latvia has in the form of thousands of choirs, ensambles and orchestras, which form the occasionally invisible cloth into which new golden threads are woven.

This potential has also been recoginsed by international cinema professionals. Thus it was that the Latvian Radio Choir and the Rīgas kamermūziķi Orchestra took part in the recording of the soundtrack for Eric Till’s film Luther. Likewise, the voices of the State Academic Choir Latvia can be heard on the soundtracks of Tom Tykwer’s film Perfume, and the new BBC series War and Peace. In turn, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra is happy to include showings of classic silent movies in its concert programme, for which it either finds and performs the corresponding standtrack, or commissions an original score.

In the search for exceptional sountracks, it would be well worth your time to consider Latvia’s offering, comprised of world class choirs, outstanding orchestras and composers, as recording studios and concert halls, which is exactly what Robbie Williams did before recording his single Party Like A Russian together with the Gaudeamus Male Choir.