Ēriks Ešenvalds: Gratitude Oskars Petrauskis, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra & Douglas Bostock

• Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977): O Salutaris Hostia (Arr. for soprano saxophone and organ by Raimonds Petrauskis and Oskars Petrauskis):
• 1 Ešenvalds: O Salutaris Hostia (Arr. for soprano saxophone and organ by Raimonds Petrauskis and Oskars Petrauskis) 03:34
• Adoremus in Aeternum:
• 2 Ešenvalds: Adoremus in Aeternum 09:07
• Laudate Dominum:
• 3 Ešenvalds: Laudate Dominum 10:09
• Saxophone Concerto: Visions of Arctic. Sea:
• 4 Ešenvalds: Saxophone Concerto: Visions of Arctic. Sea: I 07:57
• 5 Ešenvalds: Saxophone Concerto: Visions of Arctic. Sea: II 05:42
• 6 Ešenvalds: Saxophone Concerto: Visions of Arctic. Sea: III 10:36
• O Salutaris Hostia (Arr. for soprano, soprano saxophone, and organ by Raimonds Petrauskis and Oskars Petrauskis):
• 7 Ešenvalds: O Salutaris Hostia (Arr. for soprano, soprano saxophone, and organ by Raimonds Petrauskis and Oskars Petrauskis) 05:18
• Total Runtime 52:23

Info for Ēriks Ešenvalds: Gratitude

Gratitude is a musical journey that brings together the artistry of saxophonist Oskars Petrauskis and the poetic voice of composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. This album celebrates a long-standing collaboration, where the saxophone becomes both storyteller and seeker — an instrument that bridges the sacred and the human, the intimate and the vast.

The works featured here weave together reflections on nature, faith, and myth, creating soundscapes that move from the stillness of prayer to the elemental power of the sea. At its heart, Gratitude is about connection — between composer and performer, performer and listener, and the spiritual dimensions that music can reveal.

The centre piece of the album is the premiere recording of Visions of the Arctic: Sea, a thirty-minute three-movement saxophone concerto that was first performed by Petrauskis with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra in 2020. The album includes two sacred works for saxophone and organ: Adoremus in aeternum and Laudate Dominum. Opening and closing the album is O salutaris hostia, originally scored for choir and two sopranos, here in two different versions for soprano saxophone and organ arranged by Raimonds and Oskars Petrauskis, the latter including soprano voice.

Oskars Petrauskis, saxophone
Liene Andreta Kalnciema, organ
Marina Rebeka, soprano
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Douglas Bostock, conductor

Oskars Petrauskis
Latvian-born saxophonist Oskars Petrauskis is celebrated for his unique musical instinct and versatility. As a soloist, he has performed with all of Latvia’s leading orchestras — including the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Rīga, Orchestra Rīga, Latvian Radio Choir, and Latvian Radio Big Band — as well as internationally with ensembles such as the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and Kristiansund Symphony Orchestra.

His collaborations span an impressive range of world-renowned artists, among them The King’s Singers, Baptiste Herbin, Vincent David, Quatuor Morphing, Marina Rebeka, Iveta Apkalna, Philippe Geiss, Douglas Bostock, and Andris Poga. Oskars has also worked closely with leading composers including Giya Kancheli, Toshio Mashima, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Pēteris Vasks, premiering numerous works for saxophone and orchestra.

Equally at home in classical repertoire, jazz, contemporary music, and free improvisation, Oskars brings expressive depth and technical brilliance to every performance. He is the founder and producer of the Riga Saxophone Weekend festival and has proudly served as a Henri Selmer Paris Ambassador since 2007.

Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (LSO)
is the oldest symphony orchestra in the Baltic States, that is still performing today, and the only professional orchestra in Latvia outside Rīga. In 2010, the LSO acquired the status of a state orchestra

The orchestra has performed regularly in the Baltic States, and has toured to China, Japan and India, as well as Greece and Azerbaijan. In the repertoire politics special attention is paid to Latvian music – the orchestra has repeatedly premiered and commissioned new works.

In recent seasons all the 12 monumental opuses of Liepaja concert series initiated by Liepaja Symphony Orchestra have been submitted to public and specialist evaluation. They have been released by such record labels as “Odradek Records” and “Skani”. Orchestra has two times received the highest national music award – The Great Music Award, as well as numerous Latvian Recordings Awards.

Douglas Bostock
British conductor Douglas Bostock is Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed Southwest German Chamber Orchestra (since 2019) and Honorary Conductor of the Argovia Philharmonic in Switzerland. He is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra (since 2024) and Honorary Guest Conductor of the Central Band of the Singapore Armed Forces (appointed in 2022).

Renowned for his versatility and artistry, Bostock has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, the BBC orchestras, Prague Radio Symphony, Prague Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Kyoto Symphony, Sapporo Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony. His international appearances have brought him to prestigious venues and festivals such as the BBC Proms, Vienna Konzerthaus, Suntory Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Tonhalle Zürich, Prague Spring Festival, Herkulessaal Munich, Leipzig Gewandhaus, and the Ravinia Festival.

A prolific recording artist, Bostock has released over 100 CDs, spanning a wide and diverse repertoire. His acclaimed recording cycles include the complete orchestral works of Carl Nielsen, the symphonies of Robert Schumann, and the extensive British Symphonic Collection, which have brought him international recognition. Known both for his championing of core repertoire and his dedication to rediscovering lesser-known works, Bostock continues to inspire audiences and musicians worldwide with his refined interpretations and visionary programming.

Booklet for Ēriks Ešenvalds: Gratitude