The RSQ made its promising debut in 1992, marking the beginning of a new era for academic saxophone music in Latvia. The debut coincided with the beginnings of saxophone performance instruction at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (1991). Membership in the ensemble has changed periodically; the current members have been together since 2013. The only remaining original member is the quartet’s founder, Artis Sīmanis, who is a professor and rector at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.
The Riga Saxophone Quartet has received the Latvian Great Music Award, the highest form of recognition in Latvian music.
By selecting wide-ranging repertoire, the quartet has also made a considerable effort in breaking the stereotype of the saxophone as a purely jazz instrument. The ensemble performs transcriptions of classical works (J.S. Bach, G. Gabrieli, G.F. Handel, and B. Marcello), original 20th and 21st century works (Andrew Poppy, Gabriel Jackson, Carleton Macy, Joe Cutler, Perry Goldstein, etc.), repertoire associated with the lyrical melodies and engaging rhythms of Latin American music as well as original compositions and arrangements of world famous jazz composers (G. Gershwin,, D. Gillespie, D. Ellington, P. Woods, M. Mower and others). An important part of the RSQ’s repertoire consists of works written specifically for this ensemble by Latvian composers Rihards Dubra, Ilze Arne, Alvils Altmanis, Selga Mence, Vineta Līce, Kārlis Lācis, Pēteris Butāns, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Nick Gotham, Līga Celma, Valdis Muktupāvels, Jēkabs Nīmanis, Raimonds Tiguls and Rihards Zaļupe.
Riga Saxophone Quartet and Valdis Muktupāvels "Ozols" (Oak tree) (planned to publish in October, 2015) | previous, please, see ibid: http://www.rigasaxophonequartet.com/en/recordings/
Concert in 17th World Saxophone Congress in France (July 2015)
Latvian Music Concert in Paris, France (May, 2015)
Concerts during the Latvian Presidency in EU 2015 in Uzbekistan, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Czech Republic (January-June 2015)
Two concerts in International Saxophone Music festival SAXOPHONIA with State Choir LATVIA, Liepāja Ambersound Symphonic Orchestra and saxophonist Philippe Geiss (February 2015)
Concerts in Kazakhstan and Armenia (Noveber, 2014)
Euroradio concert live with State Choir LATVIA (October, 2014)
two concerts in festival Probaltica in Poland (May, 2014) | countless concerts with different programs in Latvia.
The Latvian Presidency 2015. RSQ concert in Pristina, Kosovo: http://www.mzv.cz/pristina/en/bilateral_and_multilateral_relations/concert_on_the_occasion_of_launching_the.html
Review of saxophone music festival SAXOPHONIA concerts in local cultural media: http://www.diena.lv/kd/muzika/festivala-saxophonia-recenzija-robezu-paplasinasana-14089226
RSK concert in Kazakhstan: http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/11/19/684511/0/en/Riga-Saxophone-Quartet-to-perform-in-Kazakhstan-supported-by-Baltikums-Bank.html
RSQ concert in Macedonia with opera soloists from Serbia: http://www.euic.mk/news-from-eu-2015-ns_article-cultural-stories-concert-by-the-riga-saxophone-quartet.nspx etc.
