Festival programme

• Home
• News
• Festival programme

Download festival programme here.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 15 July BALTIC DAY IN RIGA

17.00               Opening of the exhibition ‘BALTICA’ IN LATVIA at the Centre for Culture and Folk Art ‘Ritums’ and in Dome Square

A story about ten festivals ‘Baltica’ that have been held in Latvia. A mobile exhibition that after the festival can be displayed in any other place in Latvia.

The exhibition will be open from July 10 – August 2.

19.00               CONCERT OF THE BALTIC STATE TRADITIONAL STORYTELLERS in Ziedonis Hall of the National Library of Latvia

All the folklore values have been preserved thanks to some storyteller. They are the living source of our folklore heritage which not only folklore ensembles but also people from other fields of art can draw from. Latvian folk music has been preserved relatively better in Northern Latgale and in Southern Kurzeme, therefore majority of the tellers’ concert participants come from there.

20.00 – 24.00  FESTIVAL CLUB - BALTIC DANCE EVENING Riga Centre for Culture and Folk Art ‘Small Guild’     

21.00               Premiere of the documentary film TO THE STEEP HILL in Riga Centre for Culture and Folk Art ‘Small Guild’

The life of the author of Dainu Hill sculptures in Turaida Museum Reserve Indulis Ranka and the philosophy of his works. The author’s road to the ‘Olympus of Latvian sculptors’ and the sacrifices made on the way.

22.30               THE LOST TRIBE. A STORY ABOUT ESTONIANS FROM LUDZA. Documentary film. Directors Indrek Jääts, Maido Selgmäe. 2014

12.00 – 22.00  Festival ‘Baltica’ INTRODUCTORY EVENT in Lielvārde

Thursday, 16 July RIGA DAY

10.00 - 22.00   FESTIVAL CRAFT MARKET in Vērmanes garden. Concerts of Latvian and foreign groups.

Small stage

Big stage

12.00 – 19.30  STRING. HOMAGE TO AUGUSTS DOMBROVSKIS – masterclasses and concerts in Culture Palace ‘Ziemeļblāzma’.

Dedicated to the entrepreneur and philanthropist, the builder of Culture Palace "Ziemeļblāzma" Augusts Dombrovskis, his love for string instruments and his dream - to see his people educated and rich in talents. 

15.00 – 17.00  HEIRS. NORTHERN LATGALE in Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music

The concert will feature performances of old, relatively new and new groups of Northern Latgale with comments about the tradition and its dynamics in the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. Dedication to Latgale patriot, ethnographer, language and folklore collector, publicist and poet Antons Slišāns.

18.00 – 20.00  AN OAK GREW IN THE DAUGAVA RIVER. ‘Baltica’ festival heritage evening in the Atrium of the National Library of Latvia

Concert - celebration, the story of the founders of the folklore festival ‘Baltica’, scholars and maintainers of the traditional culture, who have left us since the previous festival ‘Baltica’.

20.00 – 22.00 DANCING on the square at the Freedom Monument

20.00 – 5.00  FESTIVAL CLUB at the Riga Centre for Culture and Folk Art ‘Small Guild’

20.00               DAINIS STALTS. Documentary film. Director Dzintars Liepiņš, 1993

21.20               BALTICA – 88. LTV videofilm, 1988. Director Laima Žurgina. 1988

22.45               SHAMANS’ ART. Documentary film. Director Andris Slapiņš. 1984

22.30 – 5.00  Dance club

12.00 – 15.00  Festival events in regions of Latvia - Aizkraukle, Cēsis, Dikļi, Dobele and Talsi              

Aizkraukle

Concert SPĒKA DZIESMAS KALNA ZIEDU SVĒTOZOLA

in the garden of ‘Kalna ziedi’ museum

19.00 Concert CIEMA KUKULIS by Aizkraukle Culture house

21.00 Dancing, bonfire, local rural goodies and a cauldron of porridge

Cēsis

12.00-14.00 Lute master class in Cēsis Exhibition house (Laima Jansone) / Master class of               Scottish storyteller Colin McAllister (in the Chamber Hall of Cēsis Concert hall or in the      Seminar Hall of Cēsis Castle – depending on the number of participants)

14.00-14.30  Stories of Old Town houses - excursion for storytellers and others interested

16.00  Folk groups’ music in Rožu square

16.00-18.00   Vidzeme Storytellers’ school event ‘HERITAGE’ with participation of the Catalan storyteller Susana Tornero Brugués (Spain) and musicians in Art space ‘Mala’

19.00-21.00  Concert in Cēsis Concert hall

Dikļi

19.00-21.00 Concert SAULE DZIESMU VIZINĀJA in Dikļi Open-air stage

21.00 Concert "Pagānu gadagrāmata"

Dobele

13.00 Moment of remembrance by Kārlis Ulmanis monument

13.20 Opening concert of ‘Baltica 2015’ Regional day by ‘Pikšas’ great oak

15.00 Visiting the ladies and lord of Dobele castle in the former place of the castle. Stories about old events and tasting the lizard infusion, teas and other specialities prepared by Dārta – herb garden keeper of Duchess Elizabeth Magdalen

18.00 Concert of the Regional day in town centre (historic Market square)

20.00 Dancing

Talsi

18.00 - 20.00 Concert of the Regional day SAULES VEDĪBAS in the Creative courtyard of Talsi Folk house

20.00 - 21.30 Communal dancing ‘Vienam ar otru, citam ar citu’ and tasting ‘sklandrauši’             (specific pies characteristic of the region)

21.30 – 22.00 Enjoying the evening mood and a walk along the Promenade

23.00 A ritual SAULES CEĻŠ in the circle of Tiguļkalns oaks

Friday, 17 July DAINU (FOLK SONG) HILL DAY IN TURAIDA

14.00 – 18.00  SARĪKOJUMI TURAIDĀ UN SIGULDĀ

14.00 – 15.30 Koncerti „Man. Un arī jums! Mantojums” Siguldas un Krimuldas novados.

16.00 – 18.00  Ieskaņu koncerts „Latgales mantojums” Turaidā

18.00 – 20.30  Lielkoncerts MANTOJUMS. DAINU KALNAM – 30 

20.30 – 21.15 Brīvdabas kino – Zigurda Vidiņa dokumentālā filma „Uz kalnukalnu stāvo"              Turaidas Dziesmu dārzā

RĪGA

10.00 – 22.00  FESTIVAL CRAFT MARKET in Vērmanes garden. Latvian group concerts.  

Small stage

Big stage

12.00 – 14.00  CONCERT OF FOREIGN GROUPS on the ‘Origo Summer stage’.

12.00 – 16.00  Concert FLOWER BALL in the Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia.

13.00 – 15.00 Concert COME AND SING WITH… in Vērmanes garden

14.00 – 16.00  Concert No-one Had it Like My Steed in the Exhibition hall Riga Art Space

Theme – the colour of horses in Latvian folklore

16.00 – 18.00 COMMUNAL SINGING from the regions on Riga canal-sides by the Latvian National Opera                       

18.00 – 21.00  DANCE MASTER KLASSES in Riga Technical University Small Hall

19.00 – 21.00  Concert Bring the Chair, a Guest is Coming in the Exhibition hall Riga Art Space

Can you imagine the daily rhythm without a chair? Can you imagine the holidays without a chair? Can you imagine a trip without a chair? Whether the chair was made 100, 200 years ago or today - it had, it has and will have one and the same application.

21.00 – 23.00  Concert SNAKE WORDS at the Centre of renovation of wooden buildings „Koka Rīga)

An emotional journey both through the mythical snake twists in folk songs, dances and plays and the modern musical instruments, in body movements, in poetry and means of expression in visual art. In the five parts of the concert the participants and spectators will be able to experience the ambiguity of the snake from creation of the world to love and peaks of happiness.

RĒZEKNE

21.00 – 24.00  Dance night in town 

Viļaka

19.00 – 20.30  Concert ‘IGRAŠKAS KULASĀTĀ’in Viļaka Open-air stage

Saturday, 18 July LATGALE DAY

Festival events in Līvāni, Ludza, Viļaka, Viļāni and Rēzekne region

Līvāni

11.00 – 12.30 Concert GASTEJAM LEIVONŪS!

Ludza

12.00 – 14.00  Concert MANTOJUMS in open-air by Ludza Local History museum

Viļāni

13.00 – 14.00 Concert VYSI MUNI GOSTI BEJA, KAS MUNĀ USTOBĀ                 

Viļaka              Excursion for festival participants around the most beautiful places of the county

12.00 – 15.00  Concerts in Rēzekne county - Bērzgale, Dricāni, Feimaņi, Lendži, Malta, Nagļi, Nautrēnos, Rikava, Sakstagals and Verēmi          

RĒZEKNE

10.00 - 11.00   CONCERT - PRESENTATION OF NEW SOUND RECORDINGS in Rēzekne town Culture House

11.00               Opening of Latvian folk costume exhibtion HERITAGE at the Latgale Culture History Museum

The exhibition will display ethnographic and archaeological folk costumes and jewelry from all cultural regions of Latvia created by participants of folk applied arts studios, artisans and handicraft specialists from all Latvia. The opening of the exhibition will be ceremonius and very special as the manager of the ethnographic ensemble ‘Gudenieku suiti’ Lidija Jansone will demonstrate dressing up of the suiti bride. Authors of the exhibition: Linda Rubena and Mārtiņš Heimrāts

11.00               Kindling of the reduced CERAMICS KILN at Rēzekne castle mound

11.00 – 17.00  LATGALIAN CRAFT FAIR in Festival park

12.00 – 14.00  INTERCOMMUNICATION OF SCOTTISH AND LATGALIAN STORIES in Rēzekne Central library

Meeting of eight storytellers and singers  from Scotland (Colin McAllister, Isla Lord and Amy Lord, Emma Lusby, Joanne Lusby, Vincent Lusby, Frances Logan,  Robyn Stapleton) and three storytellers from Latgale - Andris Čakāns from Lazdukalns, Rugāji county, Anita Rutule from Nagļi, Rēzekne county and Trifins Ovčiņņikovs from Audriņi, Rēzekne county.

12.00 – 14.00  MAZĀKUMTAUTĪBU GRUPU KONCERTS Festivāla parkā

Minority group concert in Festival park

Piedalās: Berendejka, Čoron; Iļjinskaja Pjatņica,  Karagod, Nadeja , Vitoki (Rīga); Mrija, Rasa (Daugavpils);  Slavjanočki (Glūda); Slavjanočka, Džerelo (Jelgava); Zaveruha, Rodacy (Jēkabpils); Uzori (Līvāni); Harmonija (Rēzekne); Jatraņ, Kvitočki (Vangaži); Zdravica (Ventspils).

13.00 – 15.00  Concert FOUR WORDS at the ‘Gors’ concert hall

Word is part of the world, it is the starting impulse for the moment of creation. It is a vibration, energy that influences the world space. The basic components of the world - land, fire, water and air - these are four words. Each of them hides in itself a whole world.

During the concert Latvian folklore groups will sing and dance the folk songs, folk dances and rituals depicting these four natural elements.

14.00 – 15.30  COMMUNAL SINGING from the regions at Rēzekne castle mound

17.30 – 20.00  Festival Grand Concert THE RICHES OF FOUR FATHERS in Rēzekne region Ančupāni dale

The theme of the festival will be revealed through the cycles of nature and four seasons in songs, plays and dances from different parts of Latvia.

19.00 – 22.00  AN EVENING WITH POTTERS at Rēzekne castle mound                   

22.00 – 02.00  DANCE NIGHT at Rēzekne castle mound

RĪGA

8.00 – 20.00    LATVIAN SAUNA CELEBRATION in the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Latvian sauna culture, which is based on the cultural heritage of the nation, plays a significant role in the Latvian people's everyday life. Many rituals are based on ancestral traditions and the texts of folk songs.

Procedure:

Sauna area - a practical insight into the morning, day and evening sauna rituals, master classes and lectures.

People's health area – master classes and practical workshops of folk medicine specialists, demonstration of massages, use of nature bounties (juices, teas, facial masks, scrubs, etc.).

Folklore area - a concert with participation of Latvian dance groups, music chapels and storytellers, Lithuanian sauna specialists - folklore group members – celebration of Latvian sauna specialists.

Crafts area – creative workshops of binding sauna besoms, tea preparation, wood carving, Craftsmen’s Fair.

Children's area – the little ‘Sauna spirit’ will invite children and their parents to get to know the sauna through different plays and games and creative workshops.

12.00 – 20.00  FESTIVAL CRAFT MARKET in Vērmanes garden

12.00 – 19.00  Concert of Latvian families and minority ensembles in Vērmanes garden     

Sunday, 19 July CLOSING DAY IN RĒZEKNE

9.00 – 10.00    OPENING OF THE REDUCED CERAMICS KILN at Rēzekne castle mound

10.00 – 15.00  LATGALIAN CRAFT FAIR in Festival park

10.00 – 11.30  HOUSEHOLD MORNING – farewell breakfast at Rēzekne castle mound

Family morning as a rite (ritual) where in reality the inheritance of the tradition is taking place: family breakfast as a moment of family gathering, the pleasure of being together, sharing their daily bread with the specific Sunday morning taste, the common stories of current events and adventures, jokes, morning music and soundscape, the joy to sing that manifests itself in sonorous singing together, Sunday clothes and Sunday feelings – the charm of some lazy relaxation and celebration, showing honour to breakfast guests and slow preparation for further celebration of Sunday. Also, getting ready for the closing of the festival where the pleasure of meeting is intertwined with sadness of saying ‘good-bye’ – all of that laying the foundation for the next meeting.

11.30 – 12.30  FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS’ PROCESSION from Rēzekne castle mound to the Festival park

13.00 – 16.00  FOREIGN GROUP CONCERT in Festival park