On Saturday, July 30, at the Baldone city festival, an ambitious song festival of the Ķekava region will take place in honor of the centenary of the maestro Jānis Dūmins – “Earth, man, music”. More than 600 singers, brass ensembles, folklore ensembles and brass bands, including well-known musicians in Latvia, will take part in the closing concert of the Christmas Festival, which will take place on the Vanagkalni stage, informs the municipality of Ķekava region.
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At the closing concert of the evening, visitors will be able to hear songs important to the Latvian nation such as “Gaismas pils” and “Saule, Pērkons, Daugava”, as well as songs that have become unforgettable precisely in the interpretation of maestro Jānis Dūmins – “St. John’s Eve” or “My Homeland”, as well as XXVII The title songs of the Vislatvija song festival “Tīrums” and “Sidraba birzs” and other well-loved tunes. During the concert, the choir will also be joined by soloists – opera singer Sonora Vaice and Minister of Culture, singer Nauris Puntulis.
The events of the centenary song festival “Land, man, music” will take place throughout the day – the traditional procession of the participants of the festival will not be missed, musical and theatrical surprises are also expected, as well as concerts of koklets ensembles and folklore groups in various places in Baldone – in the center square, Ceriņu Park, near the White Palace, as part of the annual singing campaign “Dziesmu zezidi” marking the sign of God in nature and in the Baldones church, say representatives of the municipality.
During the Baldone city festival, fans of sports activities will be welcomed by various sports games and challenges throughout the day, which will take place in the Baldone sports complex. In parallel with cultural and sports events, you will have the opportunity to visit the festive market of Baldones city, where you can buy various handicrafts and delicacies. After the end of the song festival, concert-goers will be able to enjoy the nightly green ball with the band “Krauja Band”.
J. Dūminņš was an outstanding and unique personality in the history of Latvian choral music – a seeker and implementer of new ideas, founder and leader of large projects, according to the municipality. He has been chief conductor and honorary chief conductor at 13 general song festivals, “Rīgai 800” festival, seven school youth and six student song festivals, thus becoming the conductor with (so far) the longest tenure as chief conductor of song festivals.
He lived in Baldone in the summers and from 1936 he sang in the Baldone mixed choir, which he later led and prepared for the 1938 song festival, J. Dūminņš has always been an active supporter of Baldone’s cultural life, according to the municipality.
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