The XXIX International Sigulda Opera Music Festival took place in Sigulda, where it was possible to hear the best Latvian and foreign opera singers. The Sigulda Opera Music Festival offered visitors an interesting free cultural program in the garden of Sigulda’s New Palace, in addition to excellent concerts and an opera production.
As announced in the regional municipality, the President of Sigulda, Edgars Rinkēvičs, also visited the Sigulda Opera Music Festival and presented a Certificate of Commendation to the patron and organizer of the Sigulda Opera Music Festival, Dainis Kalnas, who has organized the festival since 1993.
The festivities began on Friday, July 28, with a festive overture in the garden of Sigulda’s New Castle. It was attended by Kalvis Kalniņš (baritone), Jana Lute (soprano), Dainis Medjaniks (violin), Mikus Akots (guitar) and Bruno Ančāns (trumpet), Ventis Zilberts and Ingrīda Grīnberga at the piano.
On Saturday, a magnificent open-air original production of Charles Gounod’s opera “Faust” took place on the stage of the Sigulda ruins with excellent opera soloists. For the first time on the stage of Sigulda, it was possible to hear the Ukrainian soprano Olga Bezsmertna – one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world – in the role of Margareta; she has sung at the Milan Opera House “La Scala”, the Salzburg Opera House and the Bavarian State Opera, currently singing at the Vienna State Opera. Cast: Filipe Do (France), Rihards Macanovskis (Latvia), Olga Bezsmertna (Ukraine), Jānis Apeinis, Ilona Bagele, Marlēna Keine (Latvia) and others.
Before the opera production, a free concert program “Around the world” was enjoyed in the palace garden, in which Rihards Zaļupe and Raimonds Petrauskis performed. On the other hand, after the performance, the festival visitors were entertained by DJ Žanis.
On Sunday, the Gala concert of the Sigulda Opera Music Festival took place, with the participation of Sandra Hamaoui (France/USA), Piers Īvs Privo (France) and the stars of Latvian opera music: Jānis Apeinis, Jūlija Vasilijeva, Rinalds Kandalincevs, Krišjānis Norvelis, Andris Lapiņš, Artjoms Safronovs, Ilona Bagele, Dainis Medjanik (violin). Conductors: Aleksandrs Viļumanis and Jānis Liepiņš.
Before the Gala concert, with the participation of Sonora Vaice and Roman Teo Razgali, Ingūna Grīnberga (organ), a sacred music concert took place in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sigulda, while the group “ZeBand” (Kaspars, Kārlis, Mārtiņš Matīss and Jēkabs Roberts Zemīši) performed in the garden of Sigulda’s New Castle.
2023-07-31 13:26:01
#Photo #XXIX #International #Festival #Opera #Music #held #Sigulda
