LSM’s intrepid culture editors have compiled another failsafe Top-5 list of concerts and exhibits in Riga and beyond to whet your appetite for the arts whether or not you observe International Women’s Day.
1. Symphonic journey to America
For classical music buffs, on Friday night, March 6 at the Great Guild Hall in Old Town Riga the National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) will be offering 20th century American composers’ works in a special program called ‘Journey to America’, conducted by Estonian guest Risto Josta and featuring solo violin by Sandis Šteinbergs.
2. Amelia's Waltz vs. Remix legend
Also on Friday for the more cinematically inclined, at the Palladium concert hall downtown French multi-instrumentalist and composer Yann Tiersen will perform with a five-piece accompanying group. He’s best known for the melancholy ambience of the original motion picture soundtrack to the romantic comedy ‘Amelie’. His latest album ‘Infinity’ was released this year. For those inclined to a Latvian-language and instrumental concert program, legendary guitarist Aivars Hermanis marks his 60th birthday with a solo concert at the musical theatre house Daile uptown on Barona street, featuring guest vocalists Ieva Akurātere and his friend Igo from the days of Soviet-era fusion-pop band Remix, not to mention his trustworthy band of top musicians Raimonds Macats (cello, harmonica), Kaspars Kurdenko (percussion), and Juris Kristons (keys).
3. Ethno-jazz and live trad-folk
On Saturday (at Rēzekne's Gors concert hall) or Sunday (at the Great Guild Hall in Riga) world music fans can choose the Georgian ethno-jazz men’s ensemble Egari, who seek symbiosis between their own ethnic melodies and those of other modern cultures. Their mix of improvisation, dance, polyphonic singing, folk music and jazz conjures a fantastic Georgian landscape through their use of traditional national instruments.
On Sunday at the Culture Academy’s ‘Zirgu pasts’ (Pony Express) theatre house Latvian traditional singing group Saucējas will proudly present their latest music album – a live 2013 concert recorded in Paris. Their concert will feature tales from their travels, memories of significant folksong-keepers and the story of how they came to be singers.
4. Literary lovers
For those who prefer to consume their culture in a more silent fashion, then on Saturday, beginning at the Aleksandrs Čaks Memorial Museum there is an event called ‘Fateful encounters’ to celebrate love stories among Latvia’s literary pantheon. The journey begins at noon with urban poet Čaks himself and the four loves of his life. It continues at 12:40 with a walk around Riga to look at where Rainis and Aspazija first met, as well as other famous couples like Jānis Rozentāls and Ellija Forsele, Ojārs Vācietis and Ludmila Azarova, not to mention various platonic friendships among them. The walk closes at 15:30 at the Andrejs Upītis Memorial Museum with an intriguing tale behind the empty document folder titled: ‘Upītis’ girlfriends’.
5. Oh, ladies!
The paragon of feminine strength and courage – Joan of Arc, the French saint and national heroine may not be the modern ideal woman, waving her sword around and all, but her spirit cannot be denied.
On Friday evening the Riga concert hall unveils the first musical show by the freshly-formed Youth Theatre of Latvia about Žanna d’Arka, with Ginta Krievkalne in the starring role.
On Sunday across town at 16:00 at the Imanta Culture and Recreation Center the concert “I wish to give you roses” with soloist Ingus Pētersons and various men’s choirs singing a program dedicated to the beauty of women. Also on Sunday at the Palladium, local romantic electro-pop radio-hit masters Otra puse will put on a follow-up acoustic dedication to the ladies after last year’s memorable concert on the same stage. And for those finding themselves out in Latgale, in Daugavpils pop heartthrob singer Andris Ērglis and the Mirage Jazz Orchestra are performing in the best traditions of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, but with plenty of Latvian repertoire thrown in for the local audience in Latgale’s largest city. But by the same token, what doting boyfriend wouldn’t want to treat his girl to a concert excursion ‘Ceļojums’ by Latvia’s leading male vocalist Dons at the fantastic Gors venue in Rēzekne?
