In celebration of our host country, this year’s evening concerts will feature outstanding Latvian ensembles alongside internationally renowned artists.
July 29
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is the oldest symphony orchestra in the Baltic States, that is still performing today, and the only professional orchestra in Latvia outside its capital Rīga. In 2010, the LSO acquired the status of a state orchestra.
The orchestra has performed regularly in the Baltic States, and has toured to Germany, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Greece, Japan, China, India, as well as Azerbaijan and elsewhere. In the repertoire politics special attention is paid to Latvian music – the orchestra has repeatedly premiered and commissioned new works.
The LSO regularly engages in the production of music recordings in collaboration with the companies "Skani", "Toccata Classics", "Prima Classic", "Jersica Records", "Hänssler Classic", "Odradek", "Wergo" and "Sony".
The orchestra's stage partners include such soloists as Christian Lindberg, Hiromi, Sergei Nakariakov, Ola Onabule, Julian Joseph, Maxim Rysanov, Rolando Luna, Chano Dominguez, Daniel Müller-Schott, Ksenija Sidorova, Kristīne Balanas, Iveta Apkalna, Avi Avital, Gidon Kremer, Margarita Balanas, Mischa Maisky, Pablo Fernandez, and conductors such as Gintaras Rinkevičius, Andris Poga, Douglas Bostock, Modestas Pitrenas, Risto Joost, and Lutz Köhler.
The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra has received the highest national award in music – the Great Music Award – three times, as well as several Latvian Recording of the Year awards.
At the age of 23, Peter Steiner was appointed Trombonist of the Vienna State Opera and Vienna Philharmonic for the 2016-2017 season. Prior to that engagement he served as Principal Trombonist with the Colorado Symphony for the 2014-2015 season. He has performed as guest trombonist with the Munich Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
July 30
Peter Steiner and Constanze Hochwartner
Trombone and Organ at Riga Dome Church
Italian trombonist Peter Steiner’s playing has been described as “beautifully controlled with a vocal sound” and he is recognized around the world as “a new trombone star within his generation” who “plays with total control”. In 2019 he was honoured as a Prize Winner at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia.
July 31
Zemessardzes Orķestris (Latvian National Guard Orchestra)
Major Andis Karelis, Conducting
Featuring the music of:
Johan De Meij
Håkan Björkman, Soloist
The National Guard Orchestra is the largest and youngest military orchestra in Latvia, established on 1 November 2011. It is an independent unit of the National Guard and includes a wind orchestra, a big band, the choir “Stars”, various chamber ensembles, and the folk dance ensemble “Bramaņi”.
The National Guard Orchestra not only provides musical accompaniment for military and protocol ceremonies, but also performs artistically high-quality and inspiring concerts. Its musicians and dancers are active supporters and participants of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration tradition and have performed internationally in Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, the United States of America, and Canada. The orchestra also collaborates with popular Latvian performers as well as with military orchestras from other countries.
Aug 01
The Latvian Radio Big Band was founded in 1966 as the Television and Radio Variety Orchestra of the Latvian SSR. In 1992, it was renamed the Latvian Radio Orchestra of Jazz Music before ultimately becoming the Latvian Radio Big Band. The ensemble’s first conductor was composer Ringolds Ore, followed by Alnis Zaķis, who led the orchestra from 1968 to 1991. Other notable leaders included Raimonds Pauls and Gunārs Rozenbergs, with musicians such as Aleksandrs Smirnovs and Vitalijs Dolgovs also contributing to the ensemble’s artistic legacy.
In 1996, Latvia’s only professional jazz orchestra was disbanded. However, after a 16-year hiatus and with renewed enthusiasm for jazz in Latvia, the Latvian Radio Big Band was revived in 2012 through the efforts of Māris Briežkalns, Kārlis Vanags, and patron Maestro Raimonds Pauls, who continues to serve as artistic consultant.
Today, the ensemble is led by Artistic Director Kārlis Vanags and Executive Director Dāvis Jurka. Since its revival, the band has collaborated with leading international artists including Kurt Elling, Roberta Gambarini, Randy Brecker, James Morrison, Nils Landgren, and Donny McCaslin.
The Latvian Radio Big Band has performed at prestigious venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and Lincoln Center in New York. In 2023, the ensemble received Latvia’s Great Music Award for outstanding artistic achievement.
