Raimonds Pauls’ music has long been not only available to the Latvian audience – his songs are played in Russian, English and other languages. Linguistic diversity will also be one of the trump cards of the new concert program. Listeners will have the opportunity to enjoy both songs with the words of the outstanding Russian poet Yevgeny Yevchushenko, and very fresh compositions with lyrics by American producer and songwriter Gordon Pogoda. It is logical that there will not be songs in the Latvian language with the words of poets Jānis Peters and Imants Ziedonis.
“This concert will perfectly show Maestro’s wide talent – there are no boundaries in his music,” says its producer Māris Briežkalns about the upcoming concert program.
All three soloists of the concert are not only performers of Raimonds Pauls’ music, but it is safe to say that he is also a muse. Mikhail Chekhov’s singing actress Veronika Plotnikova of the Riga Russian Theater collaborated with Maestro for the first time in the play “Sister Kerry”, then also in the musicals “Ladies’ Paradise”, “Girl in a Cafe”, “Cabiret Nights” and other projects.
But for the first time she fell in love with Raimonds Pauls’ music much earlier. “I remember such warm childhood memories – I stand in a kindergarten sandbox, I hold a rope in my hands and at the end of the rope there is an imaginary microphone in which I sing Maestro songs,” says Veronika Plotnikova. “I always care about what he says, but my worst nightmare would probably be to deceive the Maestro.” They really have a lot of love, emotions and feelings! It’s hard to find such true love in life. ”
Singer Dināra Rudāne has also had a beautiful collaboration with Raimonds Pauls. In 2019, a joint album “She and He” was released with the names of poets Jānis Peters, Leons Briežs and Guntars Račs. The album and its hits “She and He” gained recognition from a very wide audience.
“Maestro Raimonds Pauls is a musical tattoo in my heart, so I always feel like a part of Him on stage,” admits Dināra. “When I am asked about Maestro, I blur my feelings and can’t say much in words…”
Estonian jazz singer Sofia Rubina studied at the prestigious Berkeley College of Music in the USA. The artist’s jazz album “In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee” won the Estonian Music Award in the category “Best Jazz Album”. Sofia has also performed with Maestro several times and included many of his compositions in her repertoire, but in this concert program her listeners will be delighted with previously unheard songs by Raimonds Pauls, written by Gordon Pogoda.
“I performed with Maestro for the first time at the age of 16,” recalls Sofia Rubina. It happened at the Muhu Future Music Festival in Estonia, which was a very important life event for me. Later, he came together to perform quite a lot, the last time it took place in an online concert back in January this year. Speaking with Maestro is always a very happy event for me. Every time it is felt that he plays every note from the heart. It’s like talking to a listener through a melody. That’s why I always learn from Maestro by performing together! ”
The mood and musical scope of the concert will also be enriched by the excellent chamber orchestra “Kremerata Letonica” and the brass band of the jazz band “Very Cool People”.
Raimonds Pauls is a Latvian music grant – a creator of countless songs, instrumental compositions, theater and film music, in whose creative path many musical and artistic talents have joined for a shorter or longer period – musicians, vocalists, actors, etc. Many have become real friends, and this friendship has flourished in the overall artistic process. Listeners will also be able to enjoy a beautiful part of the flowers of Maestro’s creative friendship in the composer’s 85th anniversary love song concert program on September 16 at 19.00 at VEF Culture Palace.
Tickets can be purchased at aula.lv.
