About the Festival

For centuries, the word of God and the presence of God have inspired musicians to create cantatas, oratorios and musical poems thus bringing new meaning to these words through musical expression.
The Festival traditionally takes place at a time when Riga's concert life is scarce but the tourism season is in full swing. The Sacred Music Festival brought a diversity of genre into the festival movement in Latvia with its foremost emphasis on the performance of large-scale vocal, instrumental and a capella pieces.

The First Festival in 1998 presented contemporary Latvian music (Maija Einfelde's Ave Maria, Peteris Vasks' Dona nobis pacem, Andris Dzenitis' Song of the Sacrament, Arturs Maskats' St. Francis of Assisi Prayer of Peace, Lucija Garuta's Meditation, Romualds Kalsons' Recitative, solo and duet, Romualds Kalsons' Farewell, as well as Requiems by Faure, Mozart and Lloyd Webber.

At the second festival (1999) spirituality was manifested in several remarkable compositions - Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Brahms' German Requiem, Faure's Requiem, Poulenc's Gloria, Bruckner's Mass in E minor, Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces and Mozart's Exultate, jubilate. Latvian music was represented by the first performance of Peteris Butans' mass Libera me, Domine, as well as Janis Kalnins' Music for string orchestra, Arturs Maskats' Lacrimosa and Leons Amolins' Memorial Mass Return of Souls.

Special highlights of the Third Sacred Music Festival (2000) were Bach's High Mass and Handel's Messiah to celebrate the 315th anniversary of both masters. Performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius was dedicated to the centenary since the completion of the oratorio. The festival also included performances of Dvorak's Bible Songs and Requiem. To sustain the tradition of promoting Latvian music, Pauls Dambis' The Riga Book of Psalms was given its premiere performance.

The Fourth Sacred Music Festival was marked by the 800th anniversary celebrations of the city of Riga held in August 2001. The program included premiere performances of newly written Latvian works - Georgs Pelecis' oratorio God is Love, Rihards Dubras' Mass Signum Magnum and Maija Einfelde's oratorio Morning Liturgy, as well as generally approved classical values - Haydn's The Creation, Mozart's Requiem, and two programs of sacred music by Monteverdi, Schutz, Gabrieli, Tavener, Taneyev and Kodaly.

In 2002 we met in the first jubilee - the Fifth Sacred Music Festival where the world famous Georgian composer Giya Kancheli lent a special aura. The composer's presence at the concert which featured his Psalm 23 from his prayer Exil and Styx was a highlight of the festival. Each subsequent concert, too, brought its own musical flavour and uniqueness: Latvian premieres were Frigyes Hidas' Requiem, Juep Franssens' Harmony of the Spheares, Leos Janacek's Mša Glagolskaja and Hector Berlioz's oratorio L'Enfance du Christ, as well as rarely staged Felix Mendelssohn - Bartoldi's oratorio Elijah.

In 2002 the galaxy of performers included conductors Janis Purins and Wolfgang Schofer (Germany), violist Daniel Raiskin (The Netherlands), organist Kristine Adamaite, soloists- Egils Silins, Marina Tropina, Juris Adamsons and Giedrius Zalys (Lithuania).

The Festival of 2003 presented to its listeners latest pieces of contemporary music and also some premiers of classical music never before performed in Riga. Conductor Andress Mustonen introduced listeners to the renaissance sacred music of Spain and Portugal Frey Manuel Cardosso Missa pro defunctis; premiere in Latvia C. Franck's oratory Christ's last seven word on cross. Choir Symphony by Latvian composer Pēteris Butāns. Special events of the festival - concerts of Henrick Mikolai Gurecky and Arvo Part with participation of composers.

The festival of 2004 brought new and interesting musical meetings with Latvian composer Imants Ramiņš who is living and working in Canada and English composer Sir John Tavener. This festival was significant also with the premiere of Latvian composer's Indra Riše oratory Song of songs, it was also broadcasted on Euroradio live.

The 8th Festival in 2005 can be characterized by terms synthesis and spirituality. On this festival there were performed works of different ages starting from G. Donizetti till modern authors, e.g. premiere of Ēriks'Ešenvalds' Passion and Resurrection and Mazā pasija by Latvian composer Imants Zemzaris. Interesting programs were concerts of Belgian and Georgian sacred music, Berlin Mass and Te Deum by Arvo Part. Special guest of the festival was Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov.

9th International Sacred Music Festival was organized by State Choir Latvija in collaboration with Latvijas Koncerti. It took place from August 22 till Septbember 11, 2006 in Riga, Jūrmala and Liepāja. Just like all the previous years the organizers were following traditions - charity concert, priemier of original works by Latvian composers (Fides. Spes. Caritas by Andris Dzenītis, the work received The Great Music Award 2006; and Agape by Daina Klibiķe, which was dedicated to counter tenor Sergejs Jēgers); special guest of the Festival was world famous Alexander Knaifel. Among the artists of the Festival there were soloists and conductors from Austria, England, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Lithuania and Estonia.
Important accents of the Festival were concerts devoted to the 250th anniversary of the great composer V.A. Mozart with performances of motets Exultate, jubilate, Kronungsmass and Requiem. In the closing concert of the Festival artistic director Māris Sirmais had chosen War Requiem by Benjamin Britten in memoriam of 5th anniversary since terrorists attacked World Trade Centre in New York. With performance of the War Reqiuem was dignified memory of all the terrorism victims.

From August 14 until September 11, 2007 the 10th International Sacred Music Festival was celebrated. State Choir Latvija under conduction of Maris Sirmais gave Latvian premiere of Bernstein's Mass. Celebrant role was brilliantly performed by great Broadway Baritone Douglas Webster (USA). For this production State Choir was nominated for annual cultural award, presented by biggest daily news paper Diena and Great Music Award.

Two more events of the Festival were nominated for Diena award - performance of Requiem by G. Verdi on the Festival opening concert, August 14; and also closing concert of September 11, which was also an opening concert of Poetry Days and was organized together with Lativan Writers' Society and independent producer Margita Zālīte.

11. Sacred music festival in 2008 was presented much musical amazement. In festival opening concert first performance in Latvia was for  Sofias Gubaidulinas work St. Johns Passion and great composer of this work was special guest.
In festival program were include works of such a great composers like Andrew Lloyd Webber which was performed together with Liepaja symphonic orchestra , and latvian new composers Ēriks Ēšenvalds and his opera Jozeph is a fruitful bough.
Special accent was on work of Raimonds Tiguls and Nora Ikstena, because this was a first performance to them new composition Dod, Dieviņi. In performance was used video and light effects, there were solists Intars Busulis, Sergejs Jēgers and a folk singer Biruta Ozoliņa. Together with them on stage were chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Riga and bagpipe and drum music group Auļi. Special scenography was made by very talented scenograph and artist Gints Gabrāns.
In concert in Jurmala choir preformed compositions of new composer Rihards Zaļupe. One more time choir performed Rihards Dubra work for nine saxophones, choir and organ. On this concert special guest was Maki Kaisai form Japan and Jerusalem saxophone quartet.
In festival closing concert which was conduct by great polish conductor Zbigniew Graca were performed K. Penderecki Polish Requiem.

12th International Sacred Music Festival brought two Latvian premieres of “Also sprach Nietzsche” and “Supreme Silence” by Peeter Vähi (Estonia), performed by musicians from Estonia. In 22nd of August in Riga Dome Cathedral another Latvian premiere – “Russian Requiem” by Lera Auerbach. Russian – Jewish composer now lives in New York. The special event of the festival was “Jeanne d’Arc at Stake” by Arthur Honegger, in Riga St. Peter’s Church on 28th of August. Artists – State Choir “Latvija”, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Riga Dome Boy’s Choir. Jeanne d’Arc – probably the greatest actress of Latvian theatre toady – Rēzija Kalniņa. Director Indra Roga, stage-design by Mārtiņš Vilkārsis. Conductor Māris Sirmais. The closing concert of the Festival took place in Riga Dome Cathedral, 3rd of September. State Choir “Latvija”, youth choir “Kamēr…” and Latvian National Symphony Orchestra performed “Nelson Mass” by Joseph Haydn; in honor of 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn, there were performed Psalms op. op. 78,1, op. 78,2 and op. 78,3 and world premiere of “Symphonic Chant” by Latvian composer Līga Celma.

 In addition to the State Choir Latvija, performers such as Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Riga Chamber Players, Latvian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, German - Latvian Youth Orchestra, early music ensemble Hortus Musicus, choir Kamer... appeared at previous festivals. The podium was taken by conductors Maris Sirmais, Imants Resnis, Gintaras Rinkevicius, Aleksandrs Vilumanis, Leons Amolins, Juris Vaivods, Anita Berzina, Andres Mustonen (Estonia), Martin Winkler (Germany), Simon Phipps (Great Britain), Timothy Brown (Great Britain), Alexandre Shumski (Germany) and Martin Sieghart (Germany). Festival concerts featured vocal soloists Inga Kalna, Sonora Vaice, Elina Garanca, Kristine Gailite, Antra Bigaca, Evita Zalite, Aira Kuzmicka, Olga Bolgari (Austria), Viesturs Jansons, Miervaldis Jencs, Krisjanis Norvelis, Romans Polisadovs, Aivars Krancmanis, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Sergejs Martinovs, Ansis Sauka, Raitis Grigalis, Andris Gailis, Aleksandrs Polakovs, Ruslan Zinevics (Ukraine), Algirdas Janutas (Lithuania), instrumental soloists Marta Sudraba (cello) and Andris Nelsons (trumpet). The organ was played by Aivars Kalejs, Atis Stepims and Talivaldis Deksnis.