During the four weekends, 329 musicians from all over the world, three of the world’s most outstanding orchestras conducted by Andris Nelsons, John Eliot Gardiner and Daniel Harding, and brilliant soloists of various generations visited Riga and Jurmala.
The festival featured 21 symphonic and chamber music concerts and was attended by more than 15,100 visitors from 30 countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Lithuania and Estonia, Norway, etc.
The summer season of 2021, led by conductor John Eliot Gardiner and with pianists Jude Van and András Schiff, was opened by the newly established Maris Janson Festival Orchestra, which featured leading orchestral musicians from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and who had joined forces to replace the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and honor the memory of Maris Janson, a prominent Latvian conductor. British vocal group participated in the festival with special day and evening concerts The King’s Singers, Icelandic pianist Vikingurs Olafsson and baritone Matthias Gerne.
On the second weekend with a unique concert program in Riga and Jurmala, and a supplementary concert in Liepaja (in cooperation with the festival supporter – foundation Uniting History) was attended by the legendary Russian pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnetov, who also performed with violinist Daniel Lozakovich and cellist Miša Maiski. Pianists Joav Levanon and Arkady Volodos delighted the festival visitors with day and evening concerts. The continuation of the festival, on the third weekend, was attended by the Royal Concertgebouw orchestra and conductor Daniel Harding with soloists – pianist Jefim Bronfman and prominent American soprano Rene Fleming, as well as pianists Alexander Kantorov and Daumants Liepins. At the end of the concert series, the concert was given by soprano Kristīne Opolais and pianist Agnese Egliņa.
Festival Riga Jurmala Two grand concerts by the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, the famous home conductor Andris Nelsons and soloists Kristīne Gerkes, Klaus Floriants Vests and Ginters Groisbeck’s Japanese virtuoso, accompanied by daytime and evening concerts with pianist Mao Fujita’s performance.
Continuing work on the festival’s educational program Riga Jurmala During the summer, in cooperation with the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, face-to-face music master classes for young talents were also organized with the participation of pianist András Šifs, cellist Mišs Maiskis, soprano Renē Fleminga and pianists Leif Ūvs Annesnēs and Jefiman Bronze. During the season, 104 students from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia participated in online master classes.
In addition, within the festival and in cooperation with Latvian Radio 3 Classic visitors could enjoy special musical picnics in the parks of Riga.
“This summer has been full of emotion and emotion. Despite the planned and unplanned changes in the festival program, we have not only been very successful and with excellent results this season, but also created new and hopefully lasting initiatives. One of them is the newly created Marisa Jansona The festival orchestra, which was created on the initiative of orchestral artists, commemorating the legendary Latvian conductor and with great respect for the work of the festival, “says Zane Čulkstēna, Riga Jurmala executive director. “On behalf of the entire festival team, we would like to express our greatest admiration and respect to our fantastic musicians and gratitude to the supporters and visitors of the festival who allowed this wonderful and musical summer to take place!”
The festival is supported by: Amber Beverage Group, ice cream Excellence, Food Union, Balticovo, Uniting History, Rietumu Bank, RTP Global, Ola Foundation, Riga City Council, Jurmala Municipality Council, State Culture Capital Fund, BMW, FBO Riga, airBaltic, Baltic Travel Group, Riga International Airport, publishing house Waves of Riga, shopping center Spice and an international partner Swiss credit.
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