Concert-Portrait. Jānis Lūsēns and Zigfrīds Muktupāvels

Concert hall Great Amber in Liepāja invites you to a special concert-portrait of two well-beloved Latvian artists, Jānis Lūsēns and Zigfrīds Muktupāvels. Through music and stories, both artists will look back at their 35-year-long musical partnership by performing songs which composer Jānis Lūsēns has written specifically for the voice of Zigfrīds Muktupāvels. These are songs that, thanks to the excellent collaboration of the artists, are embedded into our people’s memories – we will hear pieces from the rock opera Kaupēn, mans mīļais (Kaupēns, My Dear), as well as many other works composed by Lūsēns with lyrics by Māra Zālīte, Imants Ziedonis, Austra Skujiņa, Vilis Plūdonis, and Guntars Račs.       

Jānis Lūsēns admits that Zigfrīds Muktupāvels is the singer and performer with whom he has worked together the longest. The collaboration of both artists began in 1985, when the Liepāja Theater production Māte un neitronbumba (Mother and the Neutron Bomb), for which Jānis Lūsēns was writing the score, was looking for its protagonist – a musically gifted and eccentric personality. After the production, the creative collaboration continued. Zigfrīds Muktupāvels secured a stable spot in Jānis Lūsēns’ ensemble Neptūns in Liepāja and, in later years, the band Zodiaks, which gained notable success: they took the Grand Prix at the festival Liepājas Dzintars, the first place and the status of special guests.

The next project they worked alongside for was the rock opera Kaupēns, My Dear, with libretto by Māra Zālīte. This work has been included in the Latvian Culture Canon. The creative path of both musicians continued with the mystery Sapnis un mīlestība (Dream and Love), concert performance Violets (Violet) featuring Austra Skujiņa’s poetry, as well as the Leļļu opera (Puppet Opera), where Zigfrīds portrayed Papa Carlo. The composer has written the song series Zelta sirds (Heart of Gold) with Kārlis Skalbe’s poetry and the Christmas series Kad mīlestība dzimst (When Love is Born) specifically for Zigfrīds Muktupāvels’ voice. This series was widely appreciated by audiences, thus confirming once again that the meeting of Jānis Lūsēns and Zigfrīds Muktupāvels both in life and in music has been no coincidence.

In compliance with all safety measures, only 20 attendees are invited to enjoy the concert in the Great Hall (the number of audience at the venue may change over time in line with state-mandated safety measures during the pandemic). The concert will be filmed in compliance with all safety measures. The streaming ticket price is set at 7 euros per one streaming connection or a “home ticket”, which allows all members of a household to enjoy the concert.

Duration: approximately 80 minutes

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yg7WS0BqgM (Jānis Lūsēns & Zigfrīds Muktupāvels – Pūt, vējiņi (G. Račs’ anniversary concert at Arēna Rīga, 27.03.2015)

Organized by: Concert hall Great Amber

Supported by: Liepāja City Council and State Culture Capital Foundation

Venue ticket prices: 20-30 euros

 Discounts:

• School children, students, teachers, seniors - 25%
• Seniors with group I and II disabilities, and their carers - 50%

We ask attendees of concerts to assess their health and not to attend events if they are showing symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath), or if they are under self-isolation, home quarantine or strict isolation. The Great Hall will be opened for the audience 30 minutes before the concert.

By attending this event, you confirm that:

- you will observe all safety measures put in place to limit the spreading of Covid-19, of which you will be informed at the venue as well;

- you will leave your outerwear individually at the cloakroom;