On October 4th at 19:00, in the Great Hall of the University of Latvia (LU) in Riga, the charity concert "The Invincible Melody of Freedom" will delight the audience with a fantastic, although slightly unusual, musical combination – Ukrainian jazz and Latvian choral music.
The concert will feature renowned Ukrainian jazz musicians showcasing their exceptional skills - The outstanding jazz singer Laura Marti, the virtuosic guitarist Taras Kušniruks, Natalija Ļebedeva, who is regarded as Ukraine's best jazz pianist, the beloved Latvian double bassist Jurijs Natsvlišvili, and Rinalds Maksimovs, playing the drums alongside the Riga Chamber Choir performing the musical poem "Daugava". This event promises to be a vibrant cultural experience that combines art and solidarity.
The concert will feature a full performance of Latvian composer and musician Mārtiņš Brauns' legendary cycle "Daugava" by one of the largest choirs in Latvia - Riga Luther Church Choir conducted by Matīss Tučs together with keyboardist Austris Kalniņš and the guitarist Kaspars Zemītis. Interestingly, Rainis' almost prophetic philosophy in the texts of the musical poem gains new meaning at this time.
In May, the Riga Luther Parish Choir already performed this cycle in the Riga Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Torņakalns, to a full house of listeners, where the impressive lighting design added a special atmosphere to the music. The October 4th concert at the Great Hall of the University of Latvia will also feature a specially designed lighting arrangement by lighting artist Ivars Vācērs.
The charity concert is dedicated to Ukraine's victory and Ukraine's Defender of the Fatherland Day, and all proceeds will be directed to Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, which was established by volunteers on the fateful day of February 24, 2022.
The event is organized with the support of the Riga City Council.
The concert will take place at the Great Hall of the University of Latvia (Raiņa Boulevard 19) in Riga on October 4th at 7:00 PM.
Tickets are available starting at €20 and can be purchased at https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/143812 They will also be available at the entrance on the day of the concert. All raised funds will be directed to humanitarian projects in Ukraine aiding those affected by the war.
The text originates from the poem Daugava written in 1916 by the Latvian poet Rainis, while the music was composed by Mārtiņš Brauns in 1988. Daugava by Rainis and Brauns has both cultural and historical value. It has been closely linked to the birth of the sovereign state of Latvia at the beginning of the 20th century and to the road to regaining independence at the end of the century. In 1990, when Latvia declared the intention of regaining independence, one of the songs from the cycle Saule, Pērkons, Daugava (Sun, Thunder, Daugava) was performed at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. It immediately became a musical icon of the Singing Revolution in Latvia.
Mārtiņš Brauns has said that Rainis has not lost his relevance: "Rainis' legacy will last forever. The paganism in Daugava is not meant to be religious. The river Daugava represents our roots and our challenges— you will not teach us how to live, we have our sun and our thunder, and none of this takes us away from our faith in God. (..) This text will remain significant as long as Latvians exist."
Date and Time: October 4, 2024, 19:00
Venue: Great Hall, University of Latvia
Ticket Price: Starting from €20
Tickets Available Here: Sia Biļešu paradīze
Join us for an evening of cultural enrichment and support for Ukraine!
About the Riga Luther Parish Choir
The Riga Luther Parish Choir has been performing since 2015 and has become an important participant in the movement of Latvian parish choirs, as well as a part of the cultural life in Torņakalns. The choir's artistic director and conductor is Matīss Tučs, the choir's master is Terēze Elza Roze, and the vocal teacher is Kristians Krievāns. The goal of the Riga Luther Parish Choir is to promote the continuity of the parish's musical life and to develop singing as an integral spiritual practice for the growth of individuals and society in the 21st century, through the quality performance of choral music.
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