Zigmars Liepiņš


Zigmars Liepiņš is a Latvian composer, keyboard player and the chairman of the board for the Latvian National Opera. Liepiņš has written songs for choirs, solo artists, orchestras, films, theatres, and operas.
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Early life and education

Zigmars Liepiņš was born in a family of musicians in Liepāja on 14 October 1952. His father Jānis Liepiņš was a violinist and the first person in Liepāja to learn how to play an electric guitar, he also had an important role in the foundation of Liepāja rock. His mother Lidija had a diploma is singing. The first opera Liepiņs saw was Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades in Liepāja Theatre in early childhood.
In 1971 he graduated from Liepāja Music Secondary School.

Career

At the age of seventeen, he started composing and joined Liepāja band Santa which he left a year later. In 1970 band Santa took part in the festival Liepājas Dzintars where Liepiņš received an award for the best folk song arrangement.
Liepiņš was a keyboard player and songwriter for band Modo , and also their manager. While in the Soviet Army Liepiņš was in band Zvaigznīte. Upon returning from the army, Liepiņš re-joined Modo.  In 1982 Modo changed their name to Opus and under Liepiņš' management existed until 1989.
In the 1980s, Liepiņš became popular with numerous hits of the time ''. In 1983 Liepiņš wrote the soundtrack for the film Vajadzīga soliste where he also played himself. It was his debut in cinema music.

Other work

1989–1992 Liepiņš was the director of Showimpex, a concert agency, 1991–1995 – the director of a recording company L&M. 1992–2007 Liepiņš was the president and shareholder of Radio SWH. Since 2013 he has been the chairman of the board for the Latvian National Opera.

Personal life

Liepiņš has two children with a Latvian singer, producer, film director and entrepreneur Mirdza Zīvere – Zane Kursīte and Jānis Liepiņš. Liepins' son Jānis Liepiņš is a conductor in the Latvian National Opera.

Works

Music for choirs and solo artists

Film scores

Music for theatre

  • 1976: Spartaks
  • 1977: Emīls un Berlīnes zēni
  • 1979: Iedomu spoguļi
  • 1979: Žanna D’Arka
  • 1981: Iela '' 
  • 1985: Punktiņa un Antons
  • 1985: Atvadu izrāde
  • 1986: Ķiršu dārzs
  • 1987: Mirabo
  • 1987: Momo
  • 1992: Suns  ''
  • 1993: Jēzus '' 
  • 1995: Svešinieki šeit  
  • 1996: Trešais vārds  
  • 1996: Trīs musketieri  
  • 1996: Trīs draugi
  • 1998: Solis laika
  • 2007: musical drama Adata''

Opera

  • 1988: rock opera Lāčplēsis
  • 1997: opera Parīzes Dievmātes katedrāle  
  • 2000: opera ''No Rozes un asinīm''

Other

  • 1975: Instrumental cycle Diennakts
  • 1985: Instrumental music Pulss 2
  • 1994: Vakara mūzika
  • 1996: Music for the firework display in Ventspils
  • 2008: Kapteiņa stāsti
  • 2012: Concerto for a violin and orchestra
  • 2014: ''Transcendental Oratorio''

Awards and nominations

In 1997 Liepiņš received the Latvian Music Award for the opera Parīzes Dievmātes katedrāle .
In 2002 Liepiņš was awarded the Order of the Three Stars.