Riga travel guide
Upcoming events
"Othello" in concert version starring Antoņenko
March 5 and March 7, the Latvian National Opera (LNO) presents Verdi’s "Othello" in concert starring the now internationally-recognized tenor from Latvia - Aleksandrs Antoņenko.
Desdemona will be sung by Inga Kalna, Iago - Jānis Apeinis. The conductor will be Normunds Vaicis.
Tickets can be purchased at the LNO box offices or "Biļešu paradīze" outlets.
Links: http://www.bilesuparadize.lv/, http://www.opera.lv/en/what-s-new/
Kirill Serebrennikov stages "Dead Souls" at National Theater
Acclaimed Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov stages Nikolai Gogol's "Dead Souls" at the National Theater. Premiere on March 4. Kirill Serebrennikov is renowned for updating classical plays to the modern-day setting. At the Latvian National Theater, Serebrennikov decided to stage Nikolai Gogol's "Dead Souls". Staging of "Dead Souls" by Kirill Serebrennikov has also been a valuable master class for actors involved in the play. Before the official premiere, students will be the first to have the opportunity to see the new play on March 2 at 5 p.m.
The play is in Latvian with Russian subtitles.
Links: http://www.bilesuparadize.lv/
Sign up for plein air "Mark Rothko 2010"
March 1-June 15, all those interested are invited to sign up for the international plein air "Mark Rothko 2010", which will be held in Daugavpils September 14-25.
The plein air is held every fall since 2005 in Latvia’s second largest city, Daugavpils, birthplace of the renowned Rothko.
Links: http://www.kultura.daugavpils.lv
"Sinfonietta Rīga" and Countertenor Jēgers to Give Concerts in Six Latvian Cities
Chamber orchestra "Sinfonietta Rīga" and countertenor Sergejs Jēgers will give concerts in six Latvian cities and towns in February, March and April. The concerts will take place in Mazsalaca, Sigulda, Valmiera, Ventspils, Kuldiga and Jelgava.
The program of the "Sinfonietta Rīga" and Sergejs Jēgers joint concerts will include Edvard Grieg's "Holberg Suite", Antonio Vivaldi's cantatas "Cessate, omai cessate RV 684", "O mie porpore piu belle RV 685", Arcangelo Corelli's "Concerto grosso op.6 nr.8 sol minorā" and Vivaldi's cantata "Nisi Dominus RV 608".
Links: http://www.sinfoniettariga.lv/index.php?&110
New film about sculptress Vera Muhina
On February 25 in downtown Riga’s "K.Suns", the premiere of Ilona Brūvere’s documentary film "Versija Vera" ("Version Vera”) - the story of the renowned sculptress, Riga resident Vera Muhina. This ”Kinolats” Studio film is not only about Muhina, but about the relationship between an artist and those in power.
Muhina’s 53-meter-tall sculptural ensemble “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” was a sensation at the 1937 World Achievement Exhibition in Paris.
"Versija Vera" will be shown in "K.Suns" February 26-March 4. Tickets at the box office for all showings.Links: http://www.ilonabruvere.com/news
New York Philharmonic and Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to perform in Riga in 2010
The world-famous symphony orchestra New York Philharmonic will perform in Riga on November 2 next year; at the end of the same month the capital of Latvia will host a concert by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Latvian Andris Nelsons.
It will be the first time that the New York Philharmonic musicians will perform in Latvia; the orchestra picked Riga as a place for their concert within the framework of their tour around Europe.The Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in its turn will perform at the Latvian National Opera House on November 26 and November 27, 2010; the acclaimed Latvian pianist Vestards Šimkus will will play piano solo at the concerts.
Links: http://www.cbso.co.uk/
Exposition "Painted in Normandy" to be shown in Riga
The Latvian National Museum of Art continues its cooperation with France in presenting noteworthy art projects. From January 23 to March 21, the opportunity to view a major Impressionism exposition for the first time in Riga - “Peindre en Normandie” - 60 paintings selected by Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille Director Alain Tapié, including works by such masters as Monet, Courbet, Corot, Daubigny and Vuillard. It will be shown in tandem with the satellite exhibit "Painted in the Baltics. Studies”.
http://www.lnmm.lv/en
Streičs’ feature film “Rūdolfs’ Inheritance” premieres
The screening of Director Jānis Streičs’ new feature film “Rūdolfs’ Inheritance” will start at Latvian movie theaters at the beginning of 2010. The film is based on Latvian writer Rūdolfs Blaumanis’ classic works, and deals with events that may have preceded the comedy “Tailor Days in Silmači”. Streičs also did the screenplay for the film.
Jānis Streičs has directed such feature films “Theater”, “The Child of Man” and others, that were, and still remain, highly popular in Latvia.
The film will premiere on January 15. In Riga, the film will be screened at the movie theater “Rīga”.
About Riga
Riga, the capital of Latvia, was officially founded in 1201. Riga is divided into six administrative districts: Centra, Kurzeme, Ziemeļu, Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale districts.
Riga is located along the Baltic Sea at the southern coast of the Gulf of Riga, on the Rigava coastal plain. The historical core of Riga is situated on the right bank of the Daugava River, about 10 kilometers from where the Daugava flows into the Gulf of Riga. The natural terrain of this area is a flat and sandy plain, about 1 to 10 meters above the sea level.
Climate in Riga is influenced by its proximity to the sea; therefore it is moderately warm and humid. Summers are comparatively cool and cloudy (average temperature in July +16.9 C; average precipitation (rainfall) – 85 mm). Winters are comparatively warm with frequent thaws (average temperature in January – 4,7 C, thaw days are about 10 days a month). Snow cover forms in the middle of December and remain through the middle of March. About 40% of the days in a year are cloudy (overcast), average precipitation – 700-720 mm a year.
