RĪGAS ZIEMASSVĒTKU KONCERTS

Legends come to life at Riga Christmas Gala!

Riga Christmas Gala at Kipsala Hall takes place on December 25 and 26 with the participation of popular singers – Elza Rozentāle, Andris Ērglis, Gunārs Kalniņš and Janis Strazdins from The Real Group. The concert this year takes a break from its usual holiday repertoire, thus creating a warm invitation to find enjoyment and soulful fulfilment in music that makes one think about the present, past and future, the very special moments of our lives.

Riga Christmas Gala will feature the Riga Cathedral Girls’ Choir conducted by Aira Birziņa, the vocal group "Schola Cantorum Riga", as well as a chamber orchestra conducted by Rūdolfs Bērtiņš. The programme will include classical and contemporary pieces offering a vast emotional amplitude, among them works by such famous foreign and Latvian composers as K. Jenkins, L. Cohen, U. Prauliņš, J. Lūsēns, Z. Muktupāvels, J. Šipkēvics, A. Grāvers and many other.

The girls' choir and medieval vintage tunes will unveil the solstice mystery in music of transcendental beauty. Audience will definitely sing along the popular tunes like "Winter" from the "Brainstorm".

Elza Rozentāle, a fascinating ethno singer, will help to look deeper into Latvian cultural and ethnic identity. Her talent shone brightly in the musical show “Cabaret”, but this Christmas she will perform pieces from this musical in a duo with the audience’s favourite singer Andris Ērglis, whose brilliant voice will also touch every heart performing U. Prauliņš, Jānis Lūsēns and other composers’ pieces.

The singer and songwriter Gunārs Kalniņš will arrive from Spain that is his current home country, and bring the warmth of the sun to Riga. His composition "O, Happy Day" will bring together a group of soloists including one that we will still keep in secret.

The Riga Cathedral Girls’ Choir conducted by Aira Birziņa is the backbone of Riga Christmas Gala as their sonorous voices will be heard in both parts of the concert. The choir is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the girls will present pieces from the internationally renowned “Odi et Amo” by U. Prauliņš. Contemporary form of expressing medieval music was already established in the mid-1990s in “Adiemus” by Karl Jenkins, whose music will be included in Riga Christmas Gala. The choir will also perform the song "Vindo" from the repertoire of the Latvian a capella band "Cosmos".

The vocal group „Schola Cantorum Riga” conducted by Guntars Prānis is a unique men vocal ensemble focused on authentic interpretation of early music. Last year, “Schola Cantorum Riga” celebrated its 20th anniversary. In Riga Christmas Gala the group will present L. Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and will accompany the soloist group in “Nāc” by A. Grāvers.

Concert director – Rūdolfs Bērtiņš

Stage designer – Oskars Dreģis

Style consultant – Anete Agneta Krišjanova

Concerts start at 17.00 December 25 and 14.00 December 26.

Ticket reservation, group discounts and enquiries: +371 67067500 or [email protected]. Riga Christmas Gala is suitable for children aged 6 and older. Buy Family Ticket (4 to 8 persons) – get 10% off!

 
No upcoming events