Tabula rasa & Book
Arvo Pärt: Tabula rasa
Pēteris Vasks: Book, for cello
Soloists:
Guna Šnē: cello (Latvia)
Robert Traksmann: violin
Harry Traksmann: violin
Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann: piano
VHK String Orchestra
Conductor: Rasmus Puur
The concert is part of the exhibition Estonian Book 500. Relics.
The Estonian and Latvian books were both born 500 years ago. At the same time that we got a written language, the tabula rasa was filled with the printed word, and soon with music. We also learned to read from similar alphabet books printed in Riga with pictures of roosters on the covers. Two great composers ‒ Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks ‒ strengthen the link from those times with their works Tabula Rasa and Grāmata: a clean page and a book.
Two strong influences have left the most significant traces in the musical development of Guna Schne’s cello playing – the tradition of M. Rostropovich inherited by prof. E. Testeleca during school and studies in Riga. As well as the breeze of Western European methodology, research and interpretation in her studies at the “Hanns Eisler” University of Music in Berlin (2004-2008), completing her cello specialty with Hans-Jakob Eschenburg and Stefan Giglberger, as well as chamber music with Friedemann Weigle (Artemis Quartett) and Michael Muche (Trio Fontaney).
From 2009 to 2018, she was the principal solo cellist of the State Chamber Orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga”.
Active chamber musician, member of several chamber music ensembles. For outstanding performance in the ensemble, she has been nominated several times for the Great Music Award – Latvia’s highest award in music.
One of the founders and member of Trio Art-i-Shock (cello, piano, percussion) since 2011. Trio Art-i-Shock has premiered more than 30 Latvian musical opus, including two concerts dedicated to the trio with an orchestra. The trio’s debut album received the Latvian Music Recordings award “Golden Microphone” in the “Best Classical Music CD in Latvia 2018” category. As a member of trio Art-i-Shock she has been the artist of residence at Latvian Radio “Klasika” 2018 and Dzintari concert hall 2019.
She has collaborated as a chamber musician with the most outstanding Latvian performers: Ksenija Sidorova (accordion), Vineta Sareika, Daniil Bulajev, Paula Šūmane and Sandis Šteinbergs (violin), Anton Trotsyuk (cello), Reinis Zariņš (piano), Egīls Šefers, Anna Gāgane (clarinet), Ieva Parša, Marlena Keine, Renars Kaupers, Ainars Mielavs (voice), Ilona Meija, Dita Krenberga (flute), Ieva Saliete and Reinut Tepp (harpsichord), Guntara Prāni (hurdy-gurdy), etc.
As a soloist, she has performed with the State Chamber Orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga”, Latvian National Sympony Orchestra, Liepaja Symphonie Orchestra, Latvian Radio Choir, State Choir “Latvija”, etc.
Since 2021 cello docent at Jāzepa Vītola Latvian Academy of Music. Since 2025 artistic producer of K. Davidov International cello competition.
The VHK String Orchestra is a 26-member ensemble made up of students from the music school of the Old Town Educational College (Vanalinna Hariduskolleegium), founded in 1996. The young musicians, aged 14 to 20, perform a repertoire consisting almost entirely of Estonian music—from Rudolf Tobias, Cyrillus Kreek, and Mart Saar to Tõnu Kõrvits, Arvo Pärt, and Erkki-Sven Tüür. The orchestra gives around 40 performances each season across Estonia. It has collaborated with many inspiring musicians from various genres, including Ain Anger, Hans Christian Aavik, Maria Listra, Harry Traksmann, Robert Traksmann, Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann, the Estonian National Male Choir, Estonian Voices, Kadri Voorand, Liisi Koikson, Mari Jürjens, Karmen Rõivassepp, Vaiko Eplik, Priit Võigemast, and others.
