"In order not to increase the folklore of the local behind-the-scenes music, it is not worth mentioning what musical intentions we and our friends from New York had at the beginning of the year when planning this year's "Ecstatic Music Ventspils". On the other hand, there is joy and elation in anticipation of what these two days in November are currently developing into. Both listeners and musicians will experience the performances of a new generation of academically educated musicians and authors in avant-garde electronic and pop music, as well as prayers to Mother Nature premiered by the brightest Latvian musicians... And more..." says the artistic director of the concert hall "Latvija" Miks Magone.

On the first day of the festival, November 14, the artist "Bec Plexus", her trio from Amsterdam and Liepaja Symphony Orchestra percussionist Marta Kauliņa and Māris Zīlmanis' duo "Percusstic Duo" will meet on the stage of the concert hall. The joint performance will feature compositions by Dutch and American composers from "Bec Plexus" debut album "STICKLIP". The string quartet "NŌNA" will perform in the first part of the concert with a special chamber music program by Christopher Cerrone, Reena Esmail, Jonathan Bingham and Donnaca Dennehy.

As the festival continues, on November 15, the concert will be premiered by the well-known American composer Sarah Kirkland Snider's work "Mass for the Endangered" performed by the State Academic Choir "Latvija", the festival ensemble "Ecstatic Ensemble" and conductor Māris Sirmais. In the first part of the concert, the quartet "Quadra" together with guest musician Konstantins Paturskis (violin) will perform Vijay Iyer's composition "Time, Place, Action".

"Ecstatic Music" is the only festival in New York that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and completely breaks down the boundaries between genres, providing new opportunities and experience for both listeners and participants. Whether it's a scream or a whisper, a breath, a bow stroke, a bell or a gong, anything and everything at the same time - each of the festival's concerts is something it would be a sin to miss!" says the venue of the festival in recent years - Merkin Hall director Amy Roberts Frawley.

It should be reminded that the first festival in Ventspils experienced the presence and joint music-making of several artists, almost called cult musicians. A year ago, the concert hall was visited by rock band "Deerhoof", percussion trio "TIGUE", performer and author of dark pop "Zola Jesus", as well as Pulitzer Prize winner, composer, vocalist and violinist Caroline Shaw. Implementing one of the intentions of the authors of the idea of "Ecstatic Music" - to invite foreign and Latvian musicians to cooperate, creating the so-called "festival ensembles" -  the "Ecstatic Quartet" or the brightest musicians from Latvian professional ensembles, created especially for this occasion, played music at the festival in Ventspils. That is how unions between artists, who are not seen and heard together on a daily basis, began and will continue in 2020. Thus, it is possible not only to get acquainted creatively and break the already mentioned genre boundaries in joint performances, but also to gain invaluable professional experience.

Past festivals in the United States have seen Dan Deacon collaborate with "So Percussion", joint performance by "Xiu Xiu" and "Mantra Percussion", Terry Riley's 80th birthday, the annual concerts curated by "Bang On A Can", Laurel Halo, Julia Holter on stage with Daniel Wohl and his piece "Transit", as well as many other bright, unexpected, surprising phenomena.