Ernests Valts Circenis is a young Latvian composer. He graduated from Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where he studied with Jānis Petraškevičs and has spent a year at the National Conservatory of Lyon (FR) with Prof. Michele Tadini. He has collaborated with the Latvian Radio Choir, Dailes Theatre (“Zēni nav meitenes”, dir. Diāna Kaijaka), chamber orchestra Sinfonia Concertante, and various internationally renowned musicians, such as singer Helēna Sorokina, pianist Robert Fleitz and the Swiss ensemble UMS ‘n JIP. The works have been performed at several European festivals, such as Latvian New Music Days, Empreintes (FR), and Druskomanija (LT). His work explores the intricacies of music perception, the interaction of sound and space, and the subject of discursivity, which is realised in both instrumental and electronic music.

The performance “breath and touch” looks at the inherent tenderness of human existence and the intimate world of the senses. It is based on two keywords: breath, central to life, and touch, which forms a large part of our connection with our surroundings. How do they interact with sound? Can we feel what we hear? Can breath be touched?