Inessa Galante - "May All Dreams Come True This Christmas!" 0 7

With the onset of the first Advent (the first pre-Christmas week), she and her daughter Diana held the final of the XII competition for young performers of classical music "Talents of Inessa Galante." Then the first concert "Christmas Prelude" took place.

Talents Must Be Noticed

As they say, the meeting place cannot be changed. The final of the talent competitions took place in the small hall of "Dzintari" in Jūrmala, and from morning until evening, when the competition was held, access was open to all who wished.

The jury of the competition consisted of experienced educators and professional musicians and cultural figures: pianist, associate professor of the keyboard instruments department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Tom Ostrovskis; composer, conductor, head of the orchestral conducting department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, professor Andris Vecumnieks; violinist of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, associate professor, head of the string instruments department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Terēze Zīberte-Ijaba; outstanding composer Arturs Maskats; director of the Jānis Medinš Riga Music School, saxophonist Ainars Šablovskis; countertenor Sergey Egers; pianist, laureate of prestigious international competitions, head of the keyboard instruments department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Andrey Osokin; music educator Dagnija Stake. The chair of the jury is the patroness of the competition, holder of the Order of the Three Stars Inessa Galante.

The "Christmas Prelude" traditionally takes place in the majestic Dome Cathedral, where a long queue forms. And perhaps this is the most pleasant queue at Christmas, which starts at Dome Square by the Christmas tree and slowly moves into the ancient temple, illuminated by New Year's lights.

"A great role in my success and development was played by my teachers," says Inessa. "They instilled in me so much strength, diligence, and all these efforts I must pass on to the new generation. Year after year, for the twelfth time now, we gather young talents in various categories and help them successfully start their journey into the big musical world. Three laureates receive prizes in different nominations - vocal art, keyboard instruments, string instruments, wind/percussion instruments. And it is pleasing that many of our talents, who started with us at the very beginning, now perform on the best stages - some at the Latvian National Opera, where I also began in the mid-eighties, while others perform in the opera Mecca, La Scala in Milan! Latvia is a small country, but it is truly rich in talents - they must be noticed and supported in time!"

The most pleasant thing is that many young talents then start in the Christmas concerts of the opera diva and her friends - during Christmas at the Dome, and in the summer - in the large hall of "Dzintari" at the first Baltic awards festival held this year, where prizes are awarded to the best musicians and scholars from the three Baltic countries. By the way, for Galante's concert at the Dome, there was such an influx of listeners that an additional concert was held. Regular participants of such concerts performed - countertenor and interpreter of baroque music Sergey Egers, composer and organist Aivars Kalejs, soloists of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, soprano Inna Klochkova and tenor Artem Safronov, and the boys' choir of the 1st Riga Music School named after Jāzeps Medinš under the direction of conductor Roman Vanags.

She Could Have Become a Doctor

Inessa Galante wishes everyone present during the concerts at the Dome (which has a history of over twenty years) good health - it is worth reminding that her first higher education is in medicine. "Health directly depends on mood, and mood depends on good thoughts, which is what we should focus on during the winter holidays," says the singer. "May all dreams come true this Christmas!"

And the continuation follows - on December 14 at the Dome, Inessa will perform with the most remarkable pianists of Latvia - with Daumants Liepiņš, Andrey Osokin, Aivars Kalejs (he will have his "introductory word" with the organ), and young pianist, laureate of the "Talents of Inessa Galante" Alexander Komka. Eleven-year-old Gustav Kalejs, who is already referred to by the people as the "little Maestro," will also perform. At the end of the concert, all five pianists will perform simultaneously, playing with ten hands!

On the Harm of Fatty and Sweet Foods

"Classical art is one of the factors that makes our lives more beautiful. Perhaps it is the most important factor. Everything should be dedicated to moral, inner values. One should not get tangled up in some, excuse me, garbage and think only about money. Accumulation and greed have become the main goal for many now, which is terrible. But how long can one think only about fatty and sweet things? Why make stupidity and glamour priorities? There are other, more important values, and this is not just words.

We exist to open our hearts, to immerse them in long-forgotten sensations, and to make them soar above the mundane life. There are still such concepts as ethics, nobility, the ability to help the weak, to treat not only the elderly and children gently but also all the people around you. This is exactly what my concerts are dedicated to, to awaken in people, first and foremost, their humanity.