Laura Zarina - Canadian Amber (2019)

The Toronto Latvian Concert Association is pleased to offer this recording as a tribute to the significant contribution made by Canadians of Latvian heritage to music and culture in Canada. All three composers represented here found a welcoming refuge in this country after the Second World War and, in the process of rebuilding their lives and careers, left a lasting legacy, not just as creators & composers, but also as educators and mentors. While Latvians proudly think of themselves as being part of mainstream European culture, fifty plus years of soviet occupation left the country on the edge of obscurity. The TLCA worked hard to engage a broader audience to help counter that perception, offering a unique concert experience to all who are culturally aware and musically curious, wishing to hear what Latvias finest cultural ambassadors are doing. No longer just a concert presenter, the TLCA has recently broadened its mandate to include the commissioning of new works by Latvian Canadian composers and supporting legacy projects that will highlight the contribution made by artists of Latvian heritage to the cultural fabric of Canada.