EN LATVIA’S TOP EVENTS GUIDE 2014 Contents Nature. Urban. Future., Art Festival 01 January 1-3 01.12.-31.01. Sigulda 02 February 4 This festival is part of the European Capital of Culture 2014 activities. The festival includes new, innovative 03 March 5-6 and exciting events which foster creativity in Sigulda, 04 April 6-9 including exhibitions, installations, participatory 05 May 9-10 campaigns, concerts. 06 June 11-13 www.sigulda.lv, www.tourism.sigulda.lv 07 July 13-17 08 August 17-19 Christmas Tree Trail Festival 09 September 20-22 06.12.-12.01. Riga 10 October 22-23 The environmental design works of Latvian artists exhibited at the Christmas Tree Way festival will surprise 11 November 23 audiences with their originality and the variety of 12 December 24-25 materials used. The stylized Christmas trees are made from a multitude of materials, and each has its own tale. annual event www.eglufestivals.lv Rīga 2014 event Disclaimer Information prepared in August 2013. Riga Tourism Development Bureau, Latvian Tourism Development Agency, Foundation Rīga 2014, Latvian Institute and Latvian Ministry of Culture are not responsible for any changes made by the event organisers. You can receive more information on the events at Tourism Information Centres in Riga and other Latvian cities or on the websites of events listed. International Winter Music Festival in Valmiera 09.01.-12.01. Valmiera Classical music concerts will take place at venues all over Valmiera, including the Valmiera Music School, the concert hall of the Cultural Centre, Valmiera’s 5th Secondary School, St Simon’s Church and elsewhere. www.latvia.travel, www.LiveRiga.com, www.li.lv, www.valmiera.lv, www.visit.valmiera.lv www.riga2014.org, www.culture.lv 1 Opening events for the European Capital of Culture Opening of Rienzi. The last of the Tribunes. Richard Wagner’s opus in 5 acts 17.01.-19.01. Riga Numerous activities of a wide variety will take place over 17.01. Riga a number of days for the opening of the European Capital Richard Wagner started composing his third opera, of Culture year in Riga. Rienzi, in Riga, and it is with this piece that his rise to www.riga2014.org international fame began. During the performance electronic music by young Latvian sound artist Voldemārs Johansons’ will also be played. Exhibition 1914 www.opera.lv 17.01.-19.04. Riga It is the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World Viessmann Luge World Cup Final 9th Leg; 45th European War. The exhibition will display both historical and Luge Championship personal tales from the time, and their interpretations by 25.01.-26.01. Sigulda contemporary artists. Artists who come from countries which appeared on the map after the First World War will Sigulda will host one of the most important winter sport’s be highlighted. events in Latvia - final stage of the Luge World Cup. The race not only will determine the winners of the final leg of www.riga2014.org the cup but also the overall champions of the season. www.sigulda.lv, www.tourism.sigulda.lv Chain of Booklovers 17.01. Riga Everyone is invited to take part in a participatory event - a chain of booklovers, during which books from the old library building in Riga will reach the new library by being passed along a human chain from one person to the next. www.riga2014.org FIA European Rallycross Championship 31.01.-02.02. Liepāja, Ventspils Rally Liepāja-Ventspils will be the only snow rally in the Amber Road FIA European Rallycross Championship. Over the course of three days, the snowy roads of Kurzeme will pose a 240 17.01.-31.12. Riga kilometre challenge for the drivers. This is an exhibition of amber artefacts and artwork, www.lvrally.com showing the historical, geological, medicinal and artistic value of amber. From its ancient use as a monetary currency, amber has now become a currency of culture. www.riga2014.org 2 3 International Ice Sculpture Festival Sigulda Bobsled Track and Ski Slope Winter Festival 07.02.-09.02. Jelgava 01.03.-09.03. Sigulda This is one of the biggest winter festivals in Latvia. Several A festival during which, in addition to professional sports artists from various countries will be participating. The competitions, cultural and art events, winter sports programme of the festival will include exciting shows, activities, a carnival and other entertainment activities will concerts, fireworks, light and music shows, and numerous take place. surprises in the programme for children. www.sigulda.lv, www.tourism.sigulda.lv www.icelv.lv Depeche Mode Vienna’s Classics Festival 02.03. Riga 08.02.-16.02. Riga After release of hotly anticipated 13th studio album Delta The festival takes place every other year and is dedicated Machine the legendary group Depeche Mode will play a to Vienna’s maestros: Beethoven, Heidn, and Mozart. concert in Arena Riga. During the festival chamber music and orchestral concerts www.liveriga.com will take place in Riga, making it the European Capital of Music, and throughout Latvia. www.latvijaskoncerti.lv Meteņi 02.03. Latvia Riga Wintering Meteņi is a festival where the ancient Latvians celebrated the passing of winter and started preparing for the 15.02. Riga coming of spring. Meteņi saw the winter’s last mask This winter tradition combines a carnival with cultural processions, when people sang, danced, wished well, and sport activities for Riga’s inhabitants and visitors of all visited each other far away, rode sleighs down a mountain ages. At the closing of the event a winter ball is held, with and boasted to ensure a good harvest. a masked parade, sports entertainment and competitions, www.latvia.travel master classes, various performances and opportunities to dance. www.riga2014.org Chess. Opera-lecture in 1 act 12.03. Riga Opening of The Marriage of Figaro. A comic opera in 4 acts At the heart of young composer Kristaps Pētersons’ opera is the unusual popularity boom of chess during the Cold 28.02. Riga War. A key role in this phenomenon was played by the so This Latvian National Opera production of Mozart’s called wizard from Riga - the multiple title winning chess opera buffa, directed by Argentinian director player from Latvia, Mihails Tāls. Marchello Lomanero, is set in the 1980s and staged in www.opera.lv a Latinamerican soap opera style, creating an exotic atmosphere ripe with social and sexual tension. www.opera.lv Exhibition Re:Visited 13.08.-25.08. Riga Large-scale exhibition featuring the most significant and notable works selected from the most influential art biennales of 2012/2013. www.riga2014.org, www.lcca.lv 4 5 Windstream spring music festival International Baltic Ballet Festival 20.03.-06.04. Riga 07.04.-15.05. Riga Every year RIGA Professional Symphonic Band brings The festival will delight audiences with varied and rich spring into the capital city with the Windstream festival. ballet and dance programs. It will feature stars from Listeners are invited to enjoy academic and non academic around the world and will allow dance enthusiasts to works by both foreign and local composers. enjoy world-class performances from classical to avant- garde. Various exhibitions on the theme of dance will www.music.lv/riga complement the festival. www.ballet-festival.lv International Bach Chamber Music Festival 21.03. Riga Bach. Passion. Riga. Interpretations of rarely heard chamber music by Bach, work by his contemporaries and his sons, as well as 11.04-18.04. Riga music inspired by Bach will be played at the festival. The In the concert series Bach. Passion. Riga. Johan Sebastian opening of the festival is held on the European Day of Bach’s Passions will be performed by Europe’s greatest Early Music. masters of baroque music. www.music.lv/bachfestival www.riga2014.org, www.radiokoris.lv Opening of Macbeth. Opera in 4 acts Karl Ferdinand Amenda Celebration of Music 05.04. Riga 11.04.-12.04. Talsi Macbeth, directed by Andrejs Žagars, returns to the At the Amenda celebration of Music a variety of chamber stage of the Latvian National Opera after a thirty year music concerts with participation of international absence. Experienced experts as well as new, promising musicians are planned in Talsi and the Tiņģere castle. The talents, such as conductor Andris Poga and scenographer meeting of the priest from Talsi with one of the world’s Dzudzillo, will be part of creating this performance. musical geniuses, Ludwig van Beethoven, is celebrated at www.opera.lv this event. www.talsi.lv Vija Celmiņa. Works. 11.04.-30.06. Riga The exhibition will provide an extraordinary opportunity to get to know the creative works of artist Vija Celmiņa, which include expressions of pop art, photorealism, and conceptionalism from the 60s. The exhibition will feature the artists’s paintings, drawings and prints. www.riga2014.org 6 7 Easter Amber Cup Riga, the World Hockey Tournament for 19.04.-21.04. Latvia Recreational, Women’s and Oldtimers’ Teams Easter is celebrated in Latvia with a mix of Christian and 29.04.-04.05. Riga pagan traditions. For Christians this is the time of Christ’s The Amber Cup RIGA is ready to welcome up to 140 resurrection, but in the pagan tradition Easter is the hockey teams, hosting games in 11 ice arenas. Five of the spring solstice which is celebrated in honour of the arrival arenas are located in Riga, whereas 6 arenas are in close of the spring and the sun. proximity to the city. Competitions will be organized by www.latvia.travel age: 19-35 OPEN; 35+; 40+; 45+; 50+; 55+; 60+; 65+ and 70+ as well as Women’s Teams.