Three takes of fateful music
Carminho, the world-famous Fado singer from Portugal, will perform in three concerts across Latvia. Tickets have mostly been sold out, at least for the gigs in the Berģi Culture Hall and the Vidzeme culture hall in Cēsis. While the concert on December 13 at 4 PM in the Ēdole manor isn't sold out yet, and you can enter for a hefty €75.
Of course money isn't why the Latvian public was so quick to attend (it's just love for art) - but the policies of the organizers ensure that the expression of this love will become changed utterly.
Carminho is a Portuguese Fado and pop music diva. She performs both traditional and contemporary Fado. Her records Fado (2009) and Alma (2012) have gone platinum and gold in Portugal. Carminho has topped the Spanish music charts several times.
Cabaret for the affluent, Gluhwein for the people
From December 11 to January 14 the Palladium concert hall will be busy with the ReLOVEution staging by the Cabare project. Tickets go for €65, €75, €85. It's the twelfth year when the project will be performing.
The authors of the project say that 'this staging has no relation whatsoever to variete theater or banal striptease. The plays are emotionally and artistically rich, and numerous people - all professionals in their fields of work - are participating in the project'.
Commoners need not worry though, as in Sabile the second mulled wine (Gluhwine) celebrations will be underway on December 12.
The warm and dizzying event program will prove to be a delectation to the visitors. The celebration opens at 12 noon, and wine connoisseurs will be able to snatch away some wine, while those looking for a present will do well to visit the crafts market.
Workshops, dancing and competitions will be held throughout the day, which will finish off with a celebratory walk and lighting the Christmas tree.
Books and running Santa Clauses
The timing for the annual book fair at the Latvian War Museum couldn't be better, as some have been swindled out of their books by a nefarious scam. The fair takes place on December 11 from 11 AM to 6 PM and on December 12 from 11 AM to 5 PM. If you come on Saturday from 12 noon to 2 PM you'll be able to witness some Latvian writers up close.
On December 13 at 10 AM the annual run of Santa Clauses will start at the Dome Square, and other festivities will continue in the heart of Old Riga throughout the day.
Gifts for Latvia
The Latvian composers for the Latvian centennial initiative will have a a good look at the gifts the composers have made for Latvia.
On December 11 the Latvian National Library will sound the first concert of the cycle, sporting songs by some 15 composers - including maestro Raimonds Pauls and Kārlis Lācis - sung by the Valsts akadēmiskais koris. The songs will be dedicated to five elements - fire, water, heaven, earth and.. love!
Newly composed works by Ilze Arne, Pauls Dambis, Raimonds Pauls, Andris Dzenītis, Laura Jēkabsone, Aivars Kalējs, Andris Kontauts, Kārlis Lācis, Georgs Pelēcis, Emīls Rusovs, Ansis Sauka, Andrejs Seleckis, Gundega Šmite, Anitra Tumševica, Imants Zemzaris will be performed in the first event of the concert cycle.
The initiative, driven by conductor Māris Sirmais and the Latvija choir, is to consist of five concerts, in each of which at least 14 new works will be performed. Every concert will be evaluated by professional conductors. From the total 70 songs 20 will be selected for a grandiose performance on May 4, 2018.
