In May, “Kurzemes filharmonija” offers both concerts and theatre, and in the second half of the month it will be possible to buy tickets for several events at discounted prices as a special promotion.
The month of May will traditionally start with a festive concert on 4 May in honour of the Day of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia. The concert “Notiksies, kam jānotiek” (Whatever Needs to Happen will Happen) will be performed by Ventspils Bigband and vocal group “Latvian Voices” at the Concert Hall “Latvija” at 16:00, and will be preceded by a festive speech by Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils State City Council.
The week of celebrations will continue with the concert “Mans zelts ir mana tauta” (My gold is my people), which will take place on 6 May at 17:00 at the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”. The most beautiful songs of Latvian composers about the love of their nation and homeland will be sung by Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Dināra Rudāne, Anmary and Atis Ieviņš, and the accompaniment will be provided by an instrumental band led by Jānis Lūsēns. The concert will feature melodies by Jānis Lūsēns, Zigmārs Liepiņš, Raimonds Pauls, Uldis Marhilēvičs, Juris Kulakovs, Mārtiņš Brauns, Uldis Stabulnieks, Harijs Zariņš and other composers. The concert will include audio recordings of the voices of great Latvian poets reading their poetry dedicated to our country and people as a particularly emotional message.
On 11 May at 19:00, the Valmiera Drama Theatre will present a production of Andris Kalnozols novel “Kalendārs mani sauc” (The Calendar is Calling Me), also known as a drama of tenderness, at the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”. The director of the play is Mārtiņš Eihe, and on stage we will see Meinards Liepiņš, Aigars Apinis, Anna Neli Āboliņa, Regīna Devīte, Mārtiņš Liepa, Mārtiņš Meiers, Inese Ramute, Diāna Krista Stafecka and Kārlis Dzintars Zahovskis. Andris Kalnozols debut novel was dramatised by Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce and premiered on 12 April 2022. In the same year, the play received several nominations for the annual theatre award “Spēlmaņu nakts”: Small Form Performance of the Year, with the award received, Director of the Year Mārtiņš Eihe, Young Stage Artist of the Year Meinards Liepiņš (for the role of Oskars), New Musical Piece of the Year Emīls Zilberts, Choreographer or Movement Artist of the Year Aigars Apinis.
For two weekends, Concert Hall “Latvija” will host concerts by popular local musicians. On 14 May at 16.00, The Sound Poets will give the concert “Pie vienas uguns” (By One Fire), marking the end of their fourth acoustic concert series. Whereas on 26 May at 18.00, Shipsea or Jānis Šipkēvics invites you to his concert “SHIPSEA. Siltā gaisma” (SHIPSEA. Warm Light). In the concert programme “Siltā gaismā” (Warm Light), Shipsea has brought together songs that, in his opinion, reflect the wide range of love’s temperature – from Rainis “Meitene ar ledus acīm” (Girl with Eyes of Ice) to hot flame. This new reading with string quartet, piano and voices will feature the most important pages from Shipsea’s oeuvre – “Taviem ceļiem” (On Your Knees), “Mežaparks”, as well as songs “Tavi viļņi” (Your Waves), “Pie upes” (By the River), “Dunka” (Nudge) and “Siltā gaismā” (Warm Light) from the new album “Apgaismo mani” (Enlighten Me). The programme also includes the most beautiful melodies by Imants Kalniņš, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, while Shipsea will be joined on stage by young singer Una Daniela and the charming ladies of string quartet.
On 19 May, “Kurzemes filharmonija” will also take part in the Friday Evening Walk, not only providing lively music – Saldus Municipality Kalni Culture House Chapel “Spēlmaņi” will perform in the amphitheatre of the Concert Hall “Latvija” – but also a very practical offer. “Cafe a Cappella” will be open right next to the Concert Hall, where visitors will have a chance to buy tickets for several events at attractive prices and also enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee.
Until 28 May, the exhibition “Spring 2023” will be on show in the exhibition space of the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”, featuring artworks by 30 Ventspils artists.
The full programme of events can be found on the websites jurasvarti.lv and koncertzalelatvija.lv.
Tickets are available from the ticket sales network “Biļešu paradīze”.
