On January 12, Raimonds Pauls turned 90 years old! As is customary for a super-media personality, this significant date is surrounded by congratulations from top officials and the love of millions of admirers of the diamond of Latvian pop music. However, this anniversary, strangely enough, was preceded by a delightful scandal related to the jubilarian's name, which is being savored by everyone who cares. As a result – jazz!
First, let's talk about where the Maestro celebrated his significant anniversary. It was on Monday at the "Dailes" music house in Riga (formerly the cinema of the same name, not to be confused with the theater of the same name on Brivibas). Although previously, the classic preferred to celebrate in the small hall of "Dzintari".
Home, Sweet Home
The current celebration venue was chosen primarily because, in recent years, this temple of arts has been associated with the main concert activities of our beloved pianist and composer. Here, for several years, he has been performing a program of his music with artist Andris Keish – "Men in Their Prime" (named after Pauls' song). Last year, the classic presented the premiere of his program based on the sonnets of William Shakespeare, in which Keish performs the poems, and the songs to the English bard's verses are sung by pop star Intars Busulis.
And in general, "Dailes" is closer to the home of the national treasure! Although the jubilarian is, of course, driven by car (after eye surgery, he decided two years ago not to drive). He walks around the venue with a cane gifted by his daughter Aneta. On the radio, where the Maestro plays almost every day, he is always accompanied by the legend of the radio theater Mara Eglīte (the very voice we know from the classic Runā Rīga!, "Riga Speaks!"). In life, his granddaughter Anna-Maria or Monika is constantly by his side.
Fortunately, Everything Turned Out Fine
And, as Raimonds Voldemarovich jokingly says, "The main thing on stage is to get to the piano!" Fortunately, he manages to do so, although there are problems. As is known, at the end of last year, the Maestro canceled a number of concerts at the music house. The reason was not disclosed – it was said to be a cold.
Recently, the classic openly stated in an interview with Latvian television that he had heart problems. "And in the rumbling ambulance with flashing lights, I was taken to cardiothoracic surgeon Ergļis, who went inside me with his own hands!" said Pauls with bitter irony. Fortunately, everything turned out fine – the great musician continued to perform.
In a recent interview with Privātā Dzīve magazine, Pauls also admitted that the past year was difficult, he would like to improve his health, while doctors forbid him to go on stage and play. But... "We have to celebrate somehow, we have to try to get to the piano!" He added, "Right now, I am really retired and not very interested in playing anymore. The doctor forbade me, but what will happen, I will only feel it on the spot."
Nevertheless, in a large concert at the Latvian National Opera, dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of Latvian Radio 3 (Klasika), the Maestro was announced to perform.
And That's All About Him
On Latvian television during the anniversary days, there was a flood of documentary programs about the national treasure. A documentary film titled "Maestro Raimonds Pauls. A Song of Joy" was created. Films "Raimonds Pauls. A Portrait with Music" (1977), "Being Raimonds Pauls" (2006), "The Eternal Engine. Raimonds Pauls" (2021), and the musical show "Sing Me Again" featuring the Maestro's music are being shown.
In the beginning of glorious deeds.
Concerts featuring the Maestro's music are held in various halls, and even without the classic, all tickets are sold out! On January 11, in the small hall of "Dzintari", legends of the Latvian stage, singers Rodrigo Fomins and Zigfrīds Muktu-Pavels, along with guitarist Aivars Hermanis, performed the Maestro's music.
And the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra will offer two concerts at the Congress House at the end of January, dedicated to the ninetieth anniversary. The Maestro's songs will be performed by vocalists Aija Vitoliņa and Daumants Kalniņš, and young pianist Matīss Žilinskis, about whom Raimonds Voldemarovich says: "There is someone to leave my musical watch to." The concerts will also feature the State Academic Choir "Latvia", the big band of Latvian Radio, recreated by Pauls, and conductor Māris Sirmais.
How Can There Be No Scandal
And it seemed that the most important thing is on July 11, 2026, when it was planned more than a year ago that over 13,000 singers would gather on the Great Stage of Mežaparks for the song festival "For My Homeland", dedicated to Pauls and his work.
It was around this large-scale event that a sudden scandal erupted. At the last moment, the classic said he was against this concert because its organizers were just profiting from his name. Immediately, the figure of former Latvian President Valdis Zatlers appeared on the anniversary front, who, it turns out, is a member of the "For My Homeland" foundation. The foundation was established last year to organize the concert and was named after perhaps the Maestro's main song.
The former president stated on television that he had met with the concert organizers and Pauls at the initial stage of developing the idea – the Maestro was not against it. "If we say that Pauls knew nothing, well, I was there myself when the whole council met with him, discussing what would happen, which songs... We consulted with him. We know Pauls very well, we know that he has high standards, we did everything step by step, very carefully. We said: you don’t need to organize anything, you don’t need to participate, we just want to perform the songs of your choir at one concert, which has never happened before. People need a celebration."
Zatlers also denied rumors that a fee is charged for participation. The only thing that needs to be paid is five euros for the sheet music, which the choir uses to learn the songs. "This is not a participation fee. At the moment, funding comes only from ticket sales. You can weave such intrigues, but you need to look at the idea..."
In short, after all this, the foundation sent the Maestro a collective letter of apology for the situation that arose, although it was not their fault. "The concert will take place, we will complete the work we started, as planned," says Zatlers. And he expressed hope that the classic would attend this concert. Although it is clear that he is unlikely to perform.
What Our Life Is – a Play!
In general, a person is 90 years old, and until recently, he was still at the piano – this is already phenomenal. And it seems that the classic will put a fat period at the end of his concert activity. A one-and-a-half-hour concert at the Dome Cathedral in December – it seems that there will be no more like that. One or two compositions in any concert is already good.
But what is certain is that the Maestro will continue to play the piano at home in Riga or at his summer house in Baltezers! Thus realizing his long-standing slogan: "I will play until I fall off this stool!" (pointing to the bench at the piano). He fell in November, had heart problems, but fortunately, his daughter, two granddaughters, and colleagues were nearby.
And without an instrument, the jubilarian cannot live – Raimonds Voldemarovich still plays in the first studio of Latvian Radio! He comes, warms up, plays. If something, in his opinion, is successful – it goes to the radio's archive. Recently, by the way, he recorded arrangements of songs by the long-deceased Armenian composer colleague Arno Babajanyan (remember his song "And This Wedding Sang and Danced?").
"There Is Something to Strive For"
The Maestro is quite a pragmatic person and understands that he has little time left. Although the day after the death of his wife Lana (August 2023), he still gave a previously planned concert in the large hall of "Dzintari" and said that his neighbor in Baltezers is the great artist Jānis Kubilišs, who lived to be a hundred, so "there is something to strive for." By the way, Kubilišs passed away at the age of 102.
With his wife Lana, a whole life was lived.
But just in case, a month ago, Pauls transferred his collection of ties to the "Dailes" music house, saying: "Why do I need so many?" Perhaps now they will create a museum corner with the Maestro's ties!
Earlier, he also transferred to the repository of the Museum of Literature and Music his little violin, which his father made for him and on which little Raimonds played at the beginning of his journey (only later did he switch to the piano). The beautifully built repository is located on Pulka Street in Riga, near Iļģuciems, where he grew up. According to the Maestro, his first listeners were... Germans in 1943, who listened to the seven-year-old pianist on stage in Iļģuciems. And instead of the first applause, the future genius musician heard the enthusiastic clatter of the military occupiers' jackboots. Those were the times.
The Maestro remembers how the airport in Spilve, near his home, was bombed by German troops in 1941, and by Soviet troops in 1944. He remembers the dugout that his father dug for him, where he fled with his parents and sister from the bombings.
Unfortunately, at the beginning of last year, his sister, the outstanding tapestry artist Edīte Paula-Vigner, passed away at the age of 85. Recently, Pauls visited her apartment on Pernavas and said that he wishes for a museum dedicated to his sister's work to be established in that apartment. By the way, the Maestro himself lived in that apartment in the 1960s-70s before his sister moved there, until he moved to the center of the Latvian capital.
The Secret of Pauls
Times change, but Pauls' love for music remains unchanged – that is the phenomenon!
He is loved by people of all ages, cultures, nationalities, religions, and political views. Even the Latvian Capital Culture Fund suddenly fell in love with him, awarding the classic a lifetime scholarship of 390 euros per month (tax-free) for his anniversary! By the way, what took so long?
Why is he loved? For his holy love for music. For his wisdom, talent, and the scale of his personality. Such people are born once in a hundred years. Although, in the grand scheme of things, there will never be another Raimonds Pauls.
Wishing the Maestro good health! And... can we, Raimonds Voldemarovich, have a couple more hits for dessert? The audience is persistently asking!
The award found the hero (the hero is on the right). Photo: LETA
Congratulations from the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs:
– Raimonds Pauls is more than a composer for Latvia. Raimonds Pauls is a miracle. Because he succeeds. The Maestro has an amazing ability to reach every listener in an extraordinary way. And always surprises us. The Maestro makes Latvia Latvia, because his music has taught all of Latvia to feel: to rejoice, to be proud, to be angry, to feel tenderness, and to sincerely grieve.
Raimonds Pauls has created not only the soundtrack of our lives. It seems that Raimonds Pauls' music has always been and will always be – like the sunrise in the east and the sunset in the west.
Raimonds Pauls is a man in the prime of life forever. And today, quite accidentally and unexpectedly, this age is ninety years. I would very much like to wish myself and all of us the various qualities of Raimonds Pauls – amazing work ethic and joy of creativity, as well as the ability to laugh, but not to mock.
But today is the Maestro's birthday, so the wishes are for him. I wish that health and joy of life do not interfere with each other! That good wishes bring more joy than fatigue! And that it is possible to simply do what one wants most. Men in the prime of life can afford that!
Happy birthday, Maestro!
