Re-Enactment of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival of 1993

Re-Enactment of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival of 1993

Ticket Sales for the Re-Enactment of the Final Concert of the 1993 Latvian Song and Dance Festival Have Begun

The Latvian Song and Dance Festival has become a treasure of Latvian cultural heritage. This year marks the 150th anniversary since the 1st Latvian Song and Dance Festival was held in Riga (at that time – the 1st Latvian Singing Festival), and now Latvian professional choir singers under the leadership of conductor Rūdolfs Bacāns have united in a unique and special choir to celebrate this significant anniversary with a magnificent concert. Taking part in this celebration will also be pianist, composer and improviser Vestards Šimkus and the publicist and the “voice” of the Latvian National Awakening Dainis Īvāns.

On July 7 at 7pm at the ATTA center in Riga we will go back in times and remember the National Revival period, as well as its values and ideas in a concert that took place 30 years ago in 1993, and was the first Singing Festival taking place in the restored and once again independent Latvia.

The concert program and repertoire in the revival period was already free of censorship, allowing choir singers once again perform previously banned compositions, such as “Dievs, svētī Latviju” (God, Save Latvia) by Baumaņu Kārlis, “Gaismas pils” (Light Castle) by Jāzeps Vītols, “Mūžam zili” (Blue Forever) by Emīls Dārziņš, etc.  The final concert at Mežapark's Great Stage united Latvians from all over the world making it a truly special event. Over time The Sing and Dance Festival has developed into a versatile national culture event, highlighting the traditions and quality of the a capella singing traditions in Latvia and of Latvians from all over the World.

The conductor and the author of the idea Rūdolfs Bacāns: “The National Sing and Dance Festival is a treasure created by our nation whose protection and care are sacred responsibilities of each and every one of us. This is a unique chance to experience this Festival once again, to experience the sensations of the past and the vibrations of a grand concert in an enclosed space. The concert will showcase classics of choir music, compositions of Vestards Šimkus, as well as new creations from the 1990s – all performed by professional choir singers. A special atmosphere will be created by narratives of Dainis Īvāns about the history of the National Singing Festival, its meaning and importance on the National Revival events and ideas, as well as their resonance today.”

The organizers of the team wish to highlight the tradition of Latvian collective singing, honor Latvian composers, as well as commemorate the late Māriņš Brauns whose composition “In Memoriam, Latvija” with lyrics by Andris Slapiņš was first performed on the Festival of 1993.