Ēriks Ešenvalds
Ēriks Ešenvalds is amongst the most sought-after composers working today. Widely performed and recorded, his works span choral, orchestral, stage, and film.
Biography
Ēriks studied at the Latvian Academy of Music where he now teaches. He was a member of the Latvian State Choir and Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College Cambridge.
His music has been performed at many notable venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, The Concertgebouw, the Berliner Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie, Gewandhaus, Musikverein, NCPA Beijing, Tokyo Opera City, and Sydney Opera House.
Ēriks’ large-scale premieres include Lakes Awake at Dawn for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, The Pleiades for the Grant Park Music Festival, A Shadow for the BBC Proms, Dreams Under Your Feet for the Gewandhaus, and the full-scale opera The Immured for the Latvian National Opera.
Amongst his choral works are The First Tears, Sun Dogs and Legend of the Walled-in Woman for the Latvian Radio Choir, Vineta for the Bavarian Radio Choir, and Seneca’s Zodiac for The Crossing, the frequently performed pieces Stars, O salutaris hostia, and Only in Sleep, and the New York Times-listed Earth Teach Me Quiet.
- Agent
- Podium Music
- Publisher
- Musica Baltica
Selected works
Christmas Eve
2024Mixed choir (extended/divisi) · Other · 4′10″ · ModeratePublisher: Musica BalticaA new Christmas work for mixed choir by Ēriks Ešenvalds, setting a text by Christina Rossetti. The piece explores the deeper meaning of Christmas and utilises handbells. Two versions are available, including a simplified version at an easier level of difficulty.
Text: Christina RossettiScore & informationChristmas Eve
2024Mixed choir (extended/divisi) · Other · 4′10″ · EasyPublisher: Musica BalticaA new Christmas work for mixed choir by Ēriks Ešenvalds, setting a text by Christina Rossetti. The piece explores the deeper meaning of Christmas and utilises handbells. Two versions are available, including a simplified version at an easier level of difficulty.
Text: Christina RossettiScore & information
News & features
- News01 Mar 2026Slovenian Philharmonic to perform Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Passion and Resurrection
On 20 March, the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra will perform Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Eastertide oratorio Passion and Resurrection under the direction of Stephen Layton. The role of Mary Magdalene will be sung by soprano Mojca Bitenc Križaj.
- News07 Dec 2025Musica Baltica releases new Christmas repertoire
The leading Latvian publisher Musica Baltica has announced a collection of repertoire for Christmas.