The new season of the Ventspils Concert Hall “Latvija” – vibrant and diverse

At the grand season-opening concert on September 27, the stage will feature the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the State Choir Latvija, soprano Nina Spinozi, harpsichordist Ieva Saliete, baritone Halvor Melien, and conductor Jean-Christophe Spinozi. The program will include Pēteris Vasks' Cantabile, Antonio Vivaldi's Laudate pueri: Sit nomen domine, Johann Sebastian Bach's Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra in D minor, and Gabriel Fauré's Requiem.

This autumn, the great Estonian composer Arvo Pärt celebrates his 90th birthday. To mark the occasion, the outstanding pianist Georgijs Osokins has released a new album For ARVO, also marking his debut as a Deutsche Grammophon artist.

On October 9, Osokins will present this program at Concert Hall Latvija. This unique project features original works by Pärt alongside new piano transcriptions created by Osokins himself. Many legendary works by Pärt will be heard for the first time in this form - as solo piano versions.

On October 17, the famous chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica will visit with their program Young and Unexpected, joined by brilliant soloists - violinists Gerald Bidva and Stella Zaķe, as well as cellists Magdalena Ceple and Kristers Mārtiņš Šīmanis. The program will include works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Vasks, Weinberg, Keniņš, and Mustonen. The concert hall will also delight its youngest audiences on October 29 with the children's concert performance Peter and the Wolf. The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Reinis Lapa will lead this engaging musical adventure, with characters brought to life by Liene Gāliņa, Pēteris Lapiņš, and director Ģirts Šolis.

November will open with pianist Reinis Zariņš, who on the first of the month will present his new solo program Bach and Chopin. Known for his bold and conceptual programs, Zariņš here builds a bridge between Baroque and Romanticism, showcasing his award-winning artistry and ability to uncover unexpected connections. The concert, rich in timbral colors and expressive nuances, will feature two uniquely voiced instruments: a Steinway grand piano and Dāvids Kļaviņš' vertical concert piano M470i.

On November 15, the Ventspils Chamber Orchestra and the mixed choir Ventspils, led by conductor Aigars Meri, will present the program In Autumn, joined by accordionist Inita Āboliņa and musicologist Liene Jakovļeva. Later in the month, on November 28, the Ventspils Big Band will host a Ventspils Jazz Club evening with vocalist Paula Saija and trombonist Vadims Dmitrijevs.

One of the season's highlights will be the December 6 concert, bringing together world-renowned mandolinist Avi Avital and Latvian accordion star Ksenija Sidorova, in what will be her only performance in Latvia this year. Their Ventspils concert promises classical masterpieces in unexpected arrangements, fiery virtuosity, and passionate love stories from Southern Europe and the Middle East, woven into a dazzling musical dialogue between two extraordinary instruments.

The Christmas season will begin on December 14 with Polish organist Jan Bartłomiej Bokszczanin, followed by the festive concert Come In, Christmas on December 20, featuring Aija Andrejeva, Jānis Aišpurs, the Ventspils Big Band and Chamber Orchestra. On December 21, Ance Krauze and Zigfrīds Muktupāvels will present their Christmas program So Easy and White.

The 2025 season will close on December 26 with Christmas Visions, performed by soprano Perrine Madœuf, organist Liene Andreta Kalnciema, and saxophonist Oskars Petrauskis. Alongside traditional Christmas chorales, the concert will feature works by Ēriks Ešenvalds, written especially for these performers.

Concert Hall Latvija invites Ventspils residents and visitors to enjoy unforgettable concerts, filling autumn and winter with emotionally rich musical experiences. More details about the upcoming repertoire can be found at koncertzalelatvija.lv, and tickets are available at Biļešu paradīze box offices and online at bilesuparadize.lv.