Without the State Academic Choir “Latvia”, the celebration of November 18 is unthinkable. One of the country’s leading groups and its artistic director Maris Sirmais On the anniversary of the proclamation of Latvia, they have always been present at one of the festive events. However, this year has introduced its own adjustments, forcing, for the first time since regaining independence, to abandon large-scale celebrations. Conductor Māris Sirmais, one of the most important personalities of Latvian choir culture, spends this time whether the restrictions of the virus could really endanger the Song Festival tradition and how suggestive power music has – in the following conversation.
The interview unexpectedly begins with a conversation about sports. The conductor has started weightlifting. It is unfortunate that due to the restrictions of the pandemic, there are no trainings. “Remember my coach Jānis Vītols, he will be proud,” laughs Sirmais and emphasizes – a lot of physical activity, especially in the countryside in Jūrkalne. There he plants his park and hopes that one day he will have his own tractor so that at least part of the area can be more easily mowed. The conductor also hopes that during his lifetime he will experience the construction of a national acoustic concert hall in Riga – in his opinion, it must be uncompromising excellence in terms of both architecture and acoustics.
I wanted to start with congratulations – the “Great Kristaps” ceremony has just taken place, in which Lolita Ritmanis received an award for the music of the film “Blower of Souls”. You and the choir “Latvija” also have their share of merit.
I am really happy about that. With this film, many wonderful people have entered my life, and this is the biggest prize for me. Both Lolita, whom I did not know before, Dzintars (director Dzintars Dreibergs – ed.) And Inga (Inga Praņevska, producer – ed.), With whom a wonderful friendship has developed.
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