A Meeting Place for Cultural Latvians: Work is Work, but Concerts are on Schedule 0 8

Evening in Memory of Vladimir Vysotsky

On January 31, a memorial evening for the great bard Vladimir Vysotsky took place in the large hall of the Association of National Cultural Societies of Latvia, who, by the way, visited Latvia several times during his short life.

The performance featured the Riga bard Vladimir Novikov, who has long had a reputation as a talented, proactive, and knowledgeable performer. He has been closely engaged with the works of Vladimir Vysotsky, who was born in January 1938, for many years. Mr. Novikov is interested not only in the songs of Vladimir Semyonovich but also in his poems, some of which are unpublished, as well as letters and memories. He even had a conversation in Paris with the famous artist Mikhail Shemyakin, who was closely friends with Vysotsky.

Novikov prepared a concert-monologue in which he generously shares his love for Vysotsky's work. He found some of his lesser-known compositions. The screen images were prepared with the help of Lyudmila Bychkova.

By the way, a large exhibition titled "Baltic Echo: Art and Sound 2026" is also presented in this hall. It is dedicated to the creation of the Association of Chinese Plein Air Painting in the Baltic States. The association was organized by three activists – the Chinese artist Mari Zhang, who has been living in Latvia for several years, leading master of the ebru painting technique (a more delicate, Eastern variant of watercolor) Irina Trumpel, and artist Ieva Silmane.

Leading Latvian artists, including Nikolai Krivoshein and Alexander Neberekutin, joined the exhibition. Students from the sculpture department of the Latvian Academy of Arts are also represented.

And Again, the Maestro!

On February 1, a program by Raimonds Pauls and the artist of the New Riga Theatre Andris Keišs titled "Men in Their Prime" was presented on the stage of the Daile Music House on Krišjānis Barons Street. Naturally, all tickets were sold out! And the most amazing thing is that for almost the entire two hours, the Maestro himself was on stage!

It seemed that after undergoing heart surgery last autumn, concerts featuring the classic were already behind him. Recently, he attended an event in honor of his ninetieth birthday at the Congress House, where his music was played by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. The Maestro did not go on stage; he was simply among the audience, which was already an event in itself. And here he is – on stage!

In Latvian pop music, theater, and political life, there are many men in their prime. And now we will see two – one from the world of pop music and jazz, the other from the world of theater and cinema. This program is already three years old, but now the songs of Raimonds Pauls and the acting of Andris Keišs will be presented in a new light.

"Song of the Soul" at "Dzinari"

In Jurmala, it is winter, but the small historical hall "Dzinari" continues its work. On February 1, a concert of music by Eriks Ešenvalds titled "Song of the Soul" took place here.

Eriks is 48 years old; he was born in a small Latvian town of Priekule, studied at the Latvian Baptist Theological Seminary, and then at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.

He is now one of the most performed contemporary Latvian composers in the world, and his work is especially well-known in the USA. He is now an officer of the Order of Three Stars and a three-time laureate of the Great Music Award of Latvia.

So, you had a wonderful opportunity to personally meet one of the most famous Latvian composers and learn about his creative process, inspiring travels, and future plans. Along with the composer's stories, his music "Song of the Soul" was performed by soprano Viktoria Major and two laureates of the Great Music Award – organist of the Riga Cathedral Aigars Reinis and saxophonist Aigars Raumanis.

"Don Quixote" by Adolf Shapiro

After 34 years, director Adolf Shapiro returned to Latvia, and on February 3, his production was shown again in Riga – on the main stage of the New Riga Theatre. Where once the Youth Theatre (TYUZ) was led by Adolf Yakovlevich, the premiere of the play "Don Quixote" took place with Kaspars Znotins (Don Quixote) and Gundars Abolins (Sancho Panza) in the leading roles.

Created in Riga by director Adolf Shapiro in the second half of the 20th century, the Youth Theatre (TYUZ) was one of the most influential centers of art and spiritual life in Latvia. Shapiro's productions invited audiences to reflect on important life issues for thirty years and impressed with innovative explorations of theatrical form. The director's work in the Riga TYUZ is included in the Latvian cultural canon. In 1992, after the theater's closure, Shapiro left Latvia. And now, for the first time – a return to his native walls.

The novel "Don Quixote" by the Spanish writer, playwright, and poet Miguel de Cervantes is considered the first modern novel in world literature. Following the Bible, it is the second book in the world by the number of translations into different languages.

The director explained his choice of literary work for his production: "Poetic fantasy or prose of everyday life? Magnificent madness or common sense pulling towards the ground? Rejection and mutual influence. The story of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (Cervantes called it a story, not a novel) illuminates the theater of life and the life of theater. In this light, the modern world's oscillation between the noble intentions of individuals (they are always naive) and the acceptance of reality, with its bitter experience, becomes clearer."

The production of "Don Quixote" became a kind of test for the actors and the director to see how much of Don Quixotism and how much of Sancho Panza-ism is in each of us.

Exhibition of Carved Icons

On the first floor of the main building of the Baltic International Academy, a new intriguing exhibition dedicated to traditional Old Believer Pomor culture has opened in the BIArt gallery. It showcases the complex and labor-intensive art of carved icons created by Old Believers. The public's attention at the opening of the exhibition was drawn to an ancient Gutenberg printing press. And, of course, to the works themselves.

By the way, you can also take a look at the new building of the Academy across the street, where an exhibition titled "The Image of One Woman" by the famous Latvian artist Edgars Mikelsone is open. Many residents of Riga know him, often seeing him in Old Riga, sketching views of the city, its guests, and residents. A graduate of the Latvian Academy of Arts, he has dozens of solo exhibitions to his name. But this one is truly special, as it is dedicated not to the city or various people, but to one chosen lady.

The core of the exhibition consists of a dozen and a half portraits of a charming and cheerful woman in different angles, different settings, and different moods. The captions under the portraits involuntarily draw attention, ranging from humorous "Learning is light, and ignorance is darkness" to semi-serious "The lady is not in the mood." And although none of them mention her name, the artist does not hide that the portraits depict his muse – his wife Iolanta, who has inspired him for a quarter of a century for new works and achievements.

Admission to both exhibitions, open until the end of February, is free.