At the moment, the health condition of the composer Juris Kulakov could probably be described as “like waves”: he was in rehearsal on Monday, but on Tuesday he felt worse again. The relatives of the musician do not talk much about specific harms, saying – “there is a lot with something bad”. During the creation of these lines, Kulakov and his wife Laura were optimistic about going to Roja, because, in Laura’s words: “Sometimes you have to stay better!” In what status – as an Honorary Conductor, who will steer everything from the sidelines, in his usual place at the keyboards of the group “Thunder” or as an instigator and traction? “Kulakova at night” will have one real Honorary conductor – the well-known Ivars Cinkuss. And since Kulakov also has a diploma in conducting, he will be an assistant conductor. And also as a keyboardist, which is not uncommon. In turn, as the main driving force has always been and will remain in “Thunder”. It turns out that in all three statuses, ”reports Laura.
This time within the framework of “Kulakov’s Night” there will be a concert performance “A real philosopher is not a pessimist” with interpretations of poetry by poet Eduards Veidenbaums in music, which will be offered by both well-known musicians and young talents. We are not pessimists either, we enjoy and celebrate: poetry and music, Veidenbaum’s 154th birthday and 61 years since the founding of the RTU men’s choir “Gaudeamus”. The central event of the celebration will be the fruit of cooperation between the choir “Gaudeamus” and the group “Pērkons” – the cantata “Breast in Love” with the words of Veidenbaum, “said Juris Kulakovs.
The composer has a special relationship with Eduard Veidenbaum, here’s what he said to the author of this line half-jokingly five years ago: He knew about six, seven or even eight languages. When he was lying on his deathbed, his friend Eduards Treimanis-Zvārgulis came into the room and saw that Veidenbaum was reading something in ancient Greek, French or some other language there – why do you need it ?! Veidenbaum replied: if I were to get rid of this disease, it could be useful for me. Amazingly, he was so young, but he knew so much! […] All of Veidenbaum’s poems – 70 or, according to other data, 88 – still sound modern. And they are filled with the power of thought. ”
The traditional guests of the festival “Three Latvian Tenors” with Jura folk song arrangements and classical opera hits, “Menuets”, as well as the culture palace “Ziemeļblāzma” wind orchestra “Fanfara” will perform at the Roja open-air stage of the event. In the first part of the main event of Kulakov’s night – the concert performance “A real philosopher is not a pessimist” – in the interpretation of RTU men’s choir “Gaudeamus” and the group “Thunder” the already mentioned cantata “Breast in Love” will sound. It was with this composition that the choir planned to celebrate its 60th anniversary last May, but due to the restrictions of the pandemic, it did not happen. Ivars Cinkuss, the choir’s artistic director and conductor: “It has been more than ten years since this thoughtfully uplifting cantata was created in cooperation with Juri and the group” Pērkons “. It is amazing how relevant this poetry and music is still! ” Juris Kulakovs also agrees: “Veidenbaum’s poetry is timeless, out of time and space. He is not a pessimist, as some attribute to him, he is a realist and talks about things that do not pass. Cantata music does not try to be modern either, it is very traditional, you could even say conservative. One could draw parallels – why do I still like Emils Darzins’ music? Because it’s democratic, it speaks understandable musical language. “
In the second part of the concert performance, “Iron Wolf” and the group of young rock musicians “Sēniielas zēni” will perform: Of course, Kulakov’s night is unthinkable without the charged and dynamic show of the group “Thunder” – the legendary group will take the stage shortly after midnight. Usually a new piece is made for Kulakov’s night, maybe a song stuck from ancient times will be put on the table, which has been standing somewhere on the shelf for a long time, and now is the right time to bring it to light? “Once a country musician answered the question when he will have new songs – let those who do not have good enough old ones write new ones! We don’t have to bring anything to light or re-create – we already have quite a few good songs, better than each other! ” so Kulakov.
It should be recalled that Kulakov’s night traditions were established in 2015. The first festival took place in Ogre, marking the 30th anniversary of the historic performance of “Thunder” on the Ogre stage on July 6, 1985, when the group’s fans, rushed by the emotions gained at the concert, muttered two passenger train cars. Since then, the festival has visited the wind city of Liepaja, the concert hall “Cēsis”, Juris Kulakov’s native Līvāni and Ikšķile stage. Hopefully, this time too, the composer himself will be present in person. Here, instead of quoting Yuri Kulakov again, this time from what the observer said on his 60th anniversary: “My birthday is every day I wake up and lead my life! Life is long, life is short, the flow of time is endless, and the past and the future are just a possibility. When the atoms work together, they at some point stand in the right position, sink “Thunder” and shake the foundations of Latvian pop rock. Like Eduards Veidenbaums, who has suffered from censorship and is the most forbidden poet of his time, Pērkons is also the most forbidden Latvian rock band, but now the most honored. In all things, Veidenbaum tried to dig to the heart of the matter, and I have not started digging either. Quoting a little piece of Thunder: “You teach me to start again, I just want to keep going!”
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