Ventspils Concert Hall "Latvia" will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a special concert on July 27, 2024, at 6:00 PM. This unique event marks five years since the concert hall opened its doors to visitors, becoming a significant cultural center in Ventspils and throughout Latvia.

Renowned Artists

The anniversary concert will feature many well-known artists and composers, captivating the audience with a diverse and impressive program of performances. The guest list includes organist Iveta Apkalna, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian Radio Choir, pianist Reinis Zariņš, violinist Azadeh Maghsoodi, saxophonist Renārs Lācis, the women's choir "Venda," soloist Rūta Pāvulēna, the choir "Ventspils," composers Ēriks Ešenvalds and Vilnis Šmīdbergs, as well as conductors Guntis Kuzma and Sigvards Kļava. The concert program promises to be emotionally rich and offers an unforgettable evening.

Anniversary Concert Program

The concert will open with Ēriks Ešenvalds' organ concerto "Voice Of The Ocean," composed especially for Iveta Apkalna. The world-renowned organist Iveta Apkalna is the "godmother" of Ventspils Concert Hall's Klais organ and the honorary organist of Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie Klais organ. The anniversary concert will feature one of Ventspils native Vilnis Šmīdbergs' most powerful works, "Elegy," dedicated to the memory of the composer's brother. The works will be performed by the internationally recognized Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and conductor Guntis Kuzma.

The Latvian Radio Choir will perform Ēriks Ešenvalds' piece "Rasa" with poetry by the young poet Rasa Maija Ārmale, and will also perform alongside the talented violinist Azadeh Maghsoodi. Pianist Reinis Zariņš will play one of the concert hall's unique instruments, the world's largest vertical piano made by David Klavins. Reinis Zariņš will perform works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Brad Mehldau. Special performances will be given by the young Ventspils soloist Rūta Pāvulēna, saxophonist Renārs Lācis, the women's choir "Venda," and organist Iveta Apkalna. A significant part of the concert program will include readings by Ventspils writers and poets Dagnija Zigmonte, Mārtiņš Kalndrava, Uldis Krasts, and several young poets.The culmination of the anniversary concert will be the performance of Ēriks Ešenvalds' extensive work "Heavenly Litany," featuring all the concert participants and conductor Sigvards Kļava. The narrator's voice will be that of the singing man Augusts from Skaistkalne, recorded by Sigvards Kļava during a unique expedition in Latgale with Uģis Brikmanis. The piece is based on poet Fricis Bārda's verses, calling to follow "the light that rises like a miracle from the soul, the light from which even the sun and stars draw strength."