Festival 'Vivat, Curlandia!' Concludes with Two Concerts in Bauska
On July 18, the closing concerts of the festival dedicated to the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia will take place in Bauska, featuring early music ensembles from several countries.
Today, July 18, the final concerts of the 'Vivat, Curlandia!' festival will be held in Bauska. At 2 PM, the 'Neymann Ensemble' led by Ernests Neimanis (Latvia, Austria, Italy) will perform at the Bauska Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church. The program 'Between Venice and Bologna' includes 17th-century Italian chamber music and musical parallels from the Duchy of Courland era.
Ernests Neimanis explained on Latvian Radio 'Klasika' that the program is dedicated to the birth of the Baroque in European music. He noted that at that time, the concept of a distinct soloist with accompaniment was still developing, and these compositions reflect that transition.
The 'Neymann Ensemble' operates without a permanent lineup or base—musicians meet in various European countries depending on concert locations. Neimanis describes it as a circle of like-minded individuals rather than a traditional ensemble. Currently, the ensemble includes artists from several countries, while Neimanis himself lives in Vienna.
At 4 PM, the Dutch medieval music ensemble 'Sybilla Ensemble' will perform at Bauska Castle with the program 'Dancing May,' featuring medieval songs and dances from across Europe, including Greek and Cypriot traditional music elements.
Festival director and chief producer Aija Dimza emphasized that the festival's goal is to revive the cultural heritage of the Dukes of Courland and Semigallia in an authentic environment. She stated that the festival is a way to celebrate Latvia's history and cultural heritage by performing period music in settings close to its original sound.
