Music in contradiction unites in beautiful sounds

  • 2010-07-08
  • By TBT staff

Join in on the concert celebration during the festival with film director and musician Emir Kusturica.

RIGA - All the world is constructed on thin interrelations. Day and night. Water and sand. The man and the woman. Music and cinema…
As a rule, collision, connection, at first sight, the unjoinable gives unexpected, at times a paradoxical effect … But the main thing is that, in all contradictions, it all perfectly gets on in one world, the talent corrects!

The International Music and Film Festival, which will be held in the best venues of Riga and Jurmala, promises to become the original bridge connecting the cultural spaces of Russia, Europe and the U.S. by means of great stars and groups. The main performances are going to be held in Dzintari Concert Hall in Jurmala. This hall has a unique 75-year-old history, where well-known musicians, singers and actors of world level have been performing. Also, the Latvian National Opera and the best clubs of Riga and Jurmala will host various events within this festival.

According to the organizers of the festival, the event will not be just a ‘train’ of usual or summery concerts. The festival’s highlight will consist of a non-standard way of giving a show, refusal from habitual receptions of the organization of the show. The hard work of the producers, directors, script writers and all creative personnel is directed and aimed at the creation of the festival, which would justify the name. Special performances by guest stars and groups, the scenario, an active visual number, all will be subordinated to one purpose – to intrigue and amaze the audience! It can be reached at the expense of a mixture of various genres and forms, the use of all the most progressive-making elements of modern art...

The first special guest star appearance will be made on July 16, when Nino Katamadze and “Insight” will be giving a special concert at Dzintari Concert Hall. While talking about the creativity of Nino Katamadze & Insight, you might hear a lot of difficult to utter phrases. But even the most devoted fans of Nino’s talent will not be able to give an unambiguous answer to the question: “what is the genre of this project.” Of course, if you want, you can give to this amazing music some specific terms, but why? If you will hear this magical voice at least once, you will definitely join the army of admirers of the Georgian singer’s talent. And then, the answer to the question about the genre will be simple - it is a miracle.

The next day, July 17, another highlight of the festival appears - Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra will perform at a special concert-visualization. Emir Kusturica, the Serbian film director, musician and composer, owns two Golden Palms from the Cannes film festival; he also owns the Silver bear and Silver lion for best direction at the Berlin and Venice film festivals, respectively; he received a “Sezar” award (France) in a nomination for the best film of the EU countries. And for over 20 years now, he is a member of The No Smoking Orchestra.

During the concert Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra will present a new program, where each spectator will feel like an actor, and a bit as a film director. The screens, like a window into another reality, will unite music and movie, the boundary between stage and auditorium will disappear. Keep in mind that improvisation is encouraged! You will participate in an unforgettable concert-celebration, with famous director Emir Kusturica!

On the last day of the festival popular Russian singer Sergey Shnurov and the group “Terem Quartet” will present, to the audience, an experimental show. Shnurov is a famous musician, actor and composer, the leader of the cult (nowadays nonexistent) group “Leningrad” and group “Rouble.” He also owns the award of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences “Nika” for the soundtrack to the very popular Russian film “Bumer.” Within the frame of the festival the experimental show program MUSIC VIDEO ONLINE is also scheduled to be held, where the well-known Russian and European directors-clip makers, who are working with musicians of various styles, will show their secrets on their skills and will share personal receptions of shooting on all kinds of the movie equipment (from a movie camera to a household house video camera, the camera to a mobile phone).

“Terem Quartet” completely changed the idea of musical performance with folk instruments. The bayan and small domra shock those who come to listen to classical music, and the bass-balalaika and alt-domra greatly surprise folklore music fans. But after the very first chords, everyone becomes a fan of “Terem Quartet.”
Sergey Shnurov performs opera arias at the Mariinsky Theater, writes wonderful music for films and goes naked on stage during a concert in Nuremberg. But now his fans should get ready for a new shock: during the show with “Terem Quartet,” Shnurov will appear in a very different role…

What may result from such an alliance? Clearly something unusual, unexpected and highly incendiary. Russian drive, along with recklessness, will blow up the cool Baltic climate with a huge storm of positive emotions. Shnurov and “Terem Quartet” will create songs from well-known films that sound completely different from the originals. Dzintari Concert Hall’s audience will witness the transformation of familiar tunes in unexpected ways and vivid associations.

For gourmets a special program will be presented which will be devoted to the brightest musical decisions in the world of cinema, such as “Cabaret” by Bob Fosse, Ken Russell’s “Lisztomania” and “The Doors,” by Oliver Stone.
The Music&Film Festival will run through July 18. So get your tickets on time and don’t deny yourself some amazing and incredible moments to live through, while visiting any of the festival’s concerts!