reducing cardiac energy consumption. The drug’s ef- Latvia is fectiveness in treatments has earned the recognition of medical professionals and patients in 14 countries. QUANTUM COMPUTING Proud of... A member of the Europe Scientific Academy, profes- sor Rūsiņš Mārtiņš Freivalds (1942), founded the Latvian scientific school of quantum computing. His student An- dris Ambainis (1975) has become a top tier researcher in quantum computing, too. Ambainis, the youngest acad- emician in the history of the Latvian Academy of Scienc- es, was accepted into the Princeton Research Center Clothing design Mareunrol’s unconditionally, owing to his excellent test scores. Economics – Export CARDIOLOGY Latvian cardiologists are at the forefront of research and GRINDEKS practice. The leading cardiologist Andrejs Ērglis (1964) is Founded in 1946, Grindeks is the leading pharmaceuti- Head of the Latvian Cardiology Center at Pauls Stradiņš cal company in the Baltic States. It produces an exten- Clinical University Hospital. His main field of study is the sive range of original products such as Mildronāts® and development of new percutaneous coronary interven- Ftorafur®, as well as over a hundred generics and active tion procedures for patients with artery diseases. pharmaceutical ingredients for consumers in Latvia and People are the greatest treasure of 40 other countries. AMBER FILAMENTS Inga Ļašenko, a scientist in the Biomaterials and Bio- their nations. Latvia is an exceptional CLOTHING DESIGN mechanics Institute of Riga Technical University, has We are proud of cool linen (AnnaLed, Laima Kaugure, developed antibacterial and antiperspirant textiles, in- example of how great people Natalija Jansone), daring fantasy (Mareunrol’s, Kate and cluding hosiery with silver filaments to prevent and treat brand 030470), pret-a-porter quality items (Alyona Bauska varicose veins. Ļašenko currently researches the medi- and great ideas can make a small from QooQoo) and even a social design brand MAMMU cal use of amber filaments, such as for implants in the which collaborates with young mothers in creating unique human body. Another development of hers is a line of country very proud. Here is a brief linen, jersey and silk scarves. Everyday fashion (Zib, Tun- amber-based natural cosmetics. dra and One Wolf), recycled fashion (recycled.lv) and the look at what brings out the name first designer shoe label in the Baltics, Zofa, follows suit. VIROTHERAPY of Latvia to the world and makes us How many of you are able to say osteoreflexotherapy on INFOGR.AM the first try? It is another Latvian innovation, a medical proud. Uldis Leiterts, Raimonds Kaže and Alise Semjonova have treatment, invented by Georgs Jankovskis. This method visualized communication to a new level using Infogr.am is based upon the discovery that bone nerves are con- – the simplest application for creating infographics. nected with the spinal cord and brain, and that by irritat- Infogr.am hosted eight million unique monthly visitors ing the receptors of the bones, it is possible to affect in its first year and has been used by the Wall Street other systems and functions of the body. It is used to Journal, Human Rights Watch, MIT, Stanford and others. treat more than 80 diseases. It is also no coincidence Culture Infogr.am, the founding member of TechHub Riga, that RIGVIR, a medication of virotherapy using viruses to raised 1.34 million euros from Europe’s biggest treat malignant tumours, has been named after Rīga. It OPERA DIVAS IT investors: London’s Connect Ventures and Berlin’s was in Rīga, where researchers at the Latvian Institute of Endowed with a magnificent mezzo-soprano voice, Elīna Point Nine Capital. Microbiology, led by Aina Muceniece, developed medi- Garanča (1976) has swiftly become one of the world’s cation that prolongs and improves the quality of life for brightest opera stars. She has collected several pres- cancer patients. tigious awards, such as from Echo Klassik and MIDEM, Science and performed at the world’s best operas in New York, Vienna, London and Paris. Kristīne Opolais (1979) is yet IVARS KALVIŅŠ (1947) another Latvian who sings title roles to widspread ac- The director of Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis claim at the world’s leading opera houses, among other created Mildronāts®, a cardiovascular disease treatment ©The Latvian Institute, 2014 high class singers she is outstanding with her theatri- Photo credits: Mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča cal qualities. Although being unique and unmatched, Iveta Vaivode, Paul Schirnhofer / DG, Garanča and Opolais are just two of the many bright The Latvian Institute deals with promoting awareness and providing a For further information please Marco Borggreve, stars in the constellation of Latvian opera singers. Inese wide range of information about Latvia. It works closely with local and contact the Latvian Embassy or Kaspars Balamovskis, foreign dignitaries, diplomats, academics, students and international Consulate in your country, Emīls Desjatņikovs, Galante, Maija Kovaļevska, Eglīls Siliņš and Aleksandrs media in developing an understanding of Latvia, its branding and its or the Latvian Institute: Rūta Kalmuka, Antoņenko are just a few of the Latvians on stages of people. Latvijas Institūts Gerda Buša, Pils iela 21, Rīga Ilmārs Znotiņš, world-class concert and opera halls. latvia.eu LV 1050, Latvia. Romāns Kokšarovs, facebook.com/IfYouLikeLatviaLatviaLikesYou Phone: (+371) 6750 3663 Juris Bērziņš-Soms, [email protected] Ingus Bajārs. twitter.com/LatviaInstitute Not for sale! ductors. In 1990, as a student, he founded one of the MARTINS AND TOMASS DUKURS best youth choir’s in Latvia – Kamēr…, and conducted Skeleton racer Martins Dukurs (1984) is a two-time sil- it for 22 years, winning 60 national and international ver medallist for Latvia – at the 2010 and 2014 Winter competitions. Now, Sirmais is the artistic director and Olympics. Recently named in the Guinness Book of Re- chief conductor of the State Choir Latvija, which regu- cords for winning four consecutive World Cup Cham- larly participates in international performances with pionship titles, Dukurs had a career of 31 World Cup prominent orchestras, musicians, and conductors. victories by the end of the 2013-2014 season. He is a recipient of Latvia’s highest national award, the Order KRĒMERS AND KREMERATA BALTICA of the Three Stars. Sledding is a family business: his Gidons Krēmers (1947) is a Latvian violinist, internation- brother Tomass Dukurs is also a skeleton racer, and ally acclaimed for his exceptional interpretative skills. father Dainis Dukurs is a former bobsledder and coach He has appeared on virtually every major concert of the Latvian skeleton team. The Dukuri brothers have Conductor Andris Nelsons stage with the most celebrated orchestras of Europe Skyforger also dominated the Olympics: Martins has two Olympic and America. In 1997 he gathered famous musicians of SKYFORGER silver medals while Tomass has finished fourth twice. CONDUCTORS JANSONS AND NELSONS Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, creating the chamber or- Skyforger is a band where interest in Latvian folklore, Latvian orchestra conductor, obtaining world fame was chestra Kremerata Baltica, which later became promi- history and heavy metal come together, resulting in Mariss Jansons (1943), currently the chief conductor nent in Europe and beyond. The orchestra has played extraordinary music. Their songs are mainly devoted of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and chief in more than 60 countries and 400 cities with solo- to specific occurrences in Latvian history. Sometimes conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in ists and conductors such as Mischa Maisky, Vladimir Skyforger does cover versions of folk songs, at other Amsterdam. Another sought-after maestro is Andris Ashkenazy, Sir Simon Rattle, Heinz Holliger and others. times - their own compositions with folklore-inspired Nelsons (1978) who began his career as a trumpeter texts. The band has issued 6 albums so far in countries in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, swiftly mov- like Germany, the Netherlands, the US and Brazil. They ing on to conducting the orchestra for several years. have toured not only most of Europe, but also North Soon after he gained international acclaim, and since and South America. 2013 he is the musical director-designate of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and musical director of the City FILMMAKER AND THEORIST DĀVIS SĪMANIS (1980) of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Davis Sīmanis is a Latvian filmmaker and theorist. He has directed several poetic documentaries and ex- Skeleton racer Martins Dukurs COMPOSER ĒRIKS EŠENVALDS (1977) perimental films – Valkyrie Limited (2009), Sounds ERNESTS GULBIS (1988) Ēriks Ešenvalds is one of the most popular and beloved under the Sun (2010), Chronicles of the Last Temple Tennis player Ernests Gulbis’ 2007 Grand Slam debut Latvian composers of the new generation. His piano, (2013) and more. His latest work - Escaping Rīga - was called a brilliant performance and his playing has clarinet, and choral music has been performed in Ger- is a cinematic journey, a docu-fiction on two world- continued to dazzle since then. He won his first ATP dou- many, Austria, the United States, and elsewhere, and class 20th century geniuses, the British philosopher bles title at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in also recorded by several international choirs on albums Accordionist Ksenija Sidorova Sir Isaiah Berlin and the Russian film director Sergei 2008 and his first singles title in 2010 at the Delray Beach showcasing new Latvian music. He is currently resident ACCORDIONIST KSENIJA SIDOROVA (1988) Eisenstein, who were born in the city of Rīga around tournament in Florida. The widely renowned player composer at Cambridge University. Ksenija Sidorova has injected accordion music with a hundred years ago. Davis Sīmanis is also working reached his highest career ranking to date in June 2014. both quality and modernity, raised its status, and en- on a doctoral thesis presenting history in film. Gulbis advanced to 10th place in the world rankings after COMPOSER PĒTERIS VASKS (1946) hanced its popularity within the classical music genre.