For the first time in Latvia! - a multimedial jukebox musical 'Mežrozīte, pilsētas romance divās daļās" (The Wild Rose, the romance in two parts) with music by RAIMONDS PAULS
(analogue of "Mamma Mia!")
Raimonds, who was a singer in his youth and now owns an inherited rental house, has created a music club called At the Wild Rose. It is popular with the residents of Ilguciems for its good music, and on warm summer evenings the outdoor terrace is a place of fun and passion - and... not just for the neighbourhood sparrows and pigeons... A letter arrives from Venice, and opera singer Eva arrives in Riga. Raimonds' hitherto peaceful life takes an unforeseen turn.
A colourful, joyful and positive performance, an exciting musical story about Eva and Raimonds' longing for love and forgiveness. The message of the libretto, created by playwright Dace Micānes-Zālīte, is based on Riga's intellectually creative hipster community, a woman-artist with life and career challenges and choices. In keeping with the style of a jukebox musical, the musical features only Raimonds Pauls' most popular hits: "The Lantern Hour", "Don't Tell Me", "Mezrozīte", "Dark Blue", "How Silent the Night", "Undīne" and other hits, favourite songs of Latvian and non-Latvian audiences. The wild rose blossoms in the rhythms of the city of Riga, in the motives of people's lives, in both historical and contemporary contexts.
When Raimonds Pauls and Alfrēds Krūklis created " Mežrozīte " in 1968, Jānis Peters wrote: "The rose hips dissolved in the people like the syrup of the fruit of this rose hitting the stones. The "Mezrozīte" floated, flamed, stuck, squeezed into all available places - cafés, coming from parties at midnight, at noon, resting hands..."
Starring: DINĀRA RUDĀNE / DAINIS SKUTELIS
Jolanta Strikaite, Anastasija Dolgonenko, Kārlis Rūtentāls, Emīls Gilučs, Edvards Grieze, Toms Kursītis, Austra Elza Kozuliņa, Maija Punka, Sarma Liede, Toms Kalderauskis
dancers: Zane Stūre, Asnate Rikse, Rolands Šteinbergs, Kārlis Kemlers
instrumental ensemble under the direction of Matīss Žilinskis
Music by RAIMONDS PAULS
libretto by Dace Micānes-Zālīte
Songs with the poet: J.Peters, A.Krūklis, L.Briedis, D.Dreika, D.Avotiņa
Directed by Mārtiņš Kagainis
Musical director Matīss Žilinskis
Choreographer Ieva Kemlere
Set designer-multimedia artist Ineta Sipunova
Costume designer Antra Hanna Elerta
Make-up artist Liāna Repule
Lighting designer Ivars Vācers
Costume Designer Inga Hermane
Creative Director of the project Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska
PATRON: Robin and Ieva HULL
The concept idea by Robin Hull
More info in Latvian: https://www.operetesteatris.lv/jaungada-koncerti-franz-lehar-267180-775938-999697-145384.html
Premiere: 20 December 2023 in Riga
