Numerous cultural and entertainment events will take place in Riga for Easter, the Riga City Council reported to the LETA agency, writes LETA.
On Good Friday, April 3, at 17:00, a concert by the Riga Orchestra will be held at St. John's Church in Riga.
The centerpiece of the program is the premiere of a new work: Vilnis Šmidbergs' composition "To the Father" for the Riga Orchestra and solo percussion instruments. On a day that symbolizes the moment of silence before the Resurrection in the Christian tradition, the piece dedicated to the memory of the composer's late father and filled with spiritual reflections will be performed for the first time.
At the Ziemelblazma Cultural Palace on Good Friday, a concert program featuring pianist Andrei Osokin and mezzo-soprano Ieva Parša titled "Another Shining Day" will take place.
In the concert, works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Schubert will intertwine with compositions by Latvian composers — Jāzeps Mediņš, Emīls Dārziņš, Emīls Melngailis, Aivars Kaleiss, Pēteris Vasks, Aldonis Kalniņš, Pauls Dambis, Imants Zemzars, and others.
On Easter, April 5, starting at 13:00, visitors to Victory Park can enjoy a stage program, ten Easter swings, and creative workshops — egg dyeing, making Easter symbols and figures from natural materials, and thematic wooden games.
The vocal studio "Tev un man" will entertain guests, along with a children's play titled "The Colorful Egg and the Big Question."
The community "Stiprās sievas" and the folklore group "Skandinieki" will introduce Latvian traditions, the group "Viedais fonogrāfs" will perform, and the program will conclude with the musical ensemble "Raxtu Raxti." The event will be hosted by actor Mārtiņš Bruveris.
From 12:00, an event titled "Call of Spring" will take place in the open area of the Imanta Cultural Center. Visitors will be able to participate in Easter activities with experts in Latvian traditions, swing on swings, engage in egg fights, workshops, and games, as well as watch the children's play "The Adventures of a City Boy in the Village" and a performance by the ethnographic group "Ogas." The hosts will be Zane Reitere and Edgars Zilberts.
On the second day of Easter, April 6, starting at 12:00, the return of spring will be celebrated at the Great Stage of Mežaparks. Visitors will be able to participate in egg relay races, egg rolling competitions, egg painting, making Easter decorations, and other educational and developmental workshops, as well as in sports events for all ages. A special event will be interactive light sand tables and game panels produced in Latvia as part of the "House of Light and Sensations" project.
Swings will be set up at the event, and a café will be operating. The musical program will feature the choir "Fēnikss," DJ VinK, and musicians from the group "Elektrofolk." The host will be Juris Murmanis.
On the second day of Easter, families with children aged five and older are invited to the concert "Easter Richu-Rachu" at the Ziemelblazma Cultural Palace.
In the creative workshop in Ziemelblazma Park from 12:00, the team "Lielās koka spēles" will offer creative games, and at 15:00 in the Great Hall, children and parents will be greeted by the Riga Orchestra and singer Daumants Kalniņš with a concert that will offer a musical game and introduce children to the history of the most popular board games.
At 16:00, a concert titled "Lux Paschalis" will take place at the Small Guild Cultural Center, featuring the early music ensemble "ÆLDMUSIC."
At St. John's Church in Riga at 19:00, the oratorio "Messiah" will be performed. The concert will feature the Riga Chamber Choir "Ave Sol," the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra, soprano Aija Veismane, alto Agneta Otanķe, tenor Mārtiņš Zvigulis, bass-baritone Daniils Pogoriles, with Normunds Everts on timpani and Ilze Reine on organ. The conductor will be Andris Veismanis.
On April 5 and 6, residents of Riga and visitors to the city are invited to swing on Easter swings at Dome Square, Liv Square, Town Hall Square, and Bastion Hill throughout the day.
