On August 30, at Staldzene Cliff, as part of “Ancient Fire Night,” a special musical experience will take place – Rihards Zaļupe, co-composer of the Oscar-winning film “The Flow,” and one of Latvia’s brightest voices, Linda Leen, will perform a collaborative work specially created for this event: “Ceremony. Hypnotic Soundscapes and Songs.”
As Linda Leen describes the program: “This will be a weave of sounds from two very different musicians, combining elements from each of their individually created music with sounds from various world cultures, intertwining each other’s voices and original song motifs, improvisation, and the overall program’s goal – to guide the atmosphere so that, together with the audience, we reach beyond our inner mountains to the other side.”
The concert at Staldzene Cliff promises to become one of the highlights of the summer finale—a synergy of nature’s grandeur, fire, light, and music. As darkness falls, the natural gallery will feature the Luminescent Art Exhibition “Peace,” showcasing large-scale works created by artists from Latvia and Lithuania.
Linda Leen, often called a musical chameleon, is known for her ability to effortlessly perform across genres, from pop and jazz to classical music. Her expressive and emotionally rich performances, combined with a unique talent for blending energy, intelligence, and personal storytelling in her music, have made her one of Latvia’s most beloved singers. Since the release of her debut album “Let’s Go Insane” (2000), Linda has produced five albums, three live concert DVDs, won six “Zelta Mikrofons” awards, and collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists, including musicians from Simply Red, Emmy Award winner Lolita Ritmanis, the band Prāta Vētra, and many others.
Rihards Zaļupe is one of Latvia’s most prominent contemporary composers and producers, known for a wide-ranging body of work—from symphonic and sacred music to electronic compositions and film scores. His music has been featured in numerous internationally acclaimed films, including “Nameja gredzens,” “O2,” and “1906,” while his co-composition for the film “The Flow” earned prestigious Oscar and Golden Globe recognition. Zaļupe is a six-time “Zelta Mikrofons” award winner and has received multiple international nominations.
The event is organized by the Ventspils Cultural Center, with support from the Ventspils City Municipality, the Ventspils Freeport Authority, and AAS “Balta.”
