International piano festival “Kuldīga Piano” marks its fifth year in September
From September 11 to 13, Kuldīga will host the fifth edition of the international piano music festival “Kuldīga Piano”, headlined by Swedish musician Peter Sandberg. The program also includes free concerts, masterclasses and pop-up events around town.
The International Piano Music Festival “Kuldīga Piano” will take place in Kuldīga from September 11 to 13, marking its fifth anniversary. Over three days, visitors can enjoy a varied program including free concerts, ticketed performances, masterclasses for young pianists and interactive pop-up events throughout the city.
According to festival founder Dainis Tenis, this year's edition includes two new solo projects created specifically for the Kuldīga program, and for the first time concerts will also be held at the Kuldīga Art House.
Kicking off at Riga Airport
The anniversary celebrations will begin on September 4, when young pianists perform in the public and passenger areas of Riga Airport. The festival's program in Kuldīga itself opens on September 11 at the DUNA concert hall with a performance by composer and pianist Uldis Marhilevičs.
A packed day on September 12
The busiest day will be September 12, with music sounding across several venues in the city — Rihards Plešanovs will perform at the Town Castle Garden, Kārlis Lācis will play at the restaurant “Bangerts”, and young pianists will give a classical concert at St. Anne's Church. In the evening, the festival's central event takes place at DUNA concert hall, where Swedish pianist Peter Sandberg, known for his music for the series “Stranger Things”, will perform in Latvia for the first time. He will be preceded by Mārtiņš Lāpāns, a long-time participant of the festival's masterclasses, while the evening closes with electronic compositions by Rūdolfs Macats.
The festival concludes on September 13 with a Father's Day concert by Kuldīga-born musician Toms Mikāls.
Organizers note that over five years the festival has grown into an important cultural platform that fosters international cooperation, attracts renowned artists and boosts Kuldīga's recognition on Europe's cultural map. Tickets for paid concerts are available through “Biļešu Paradīze” and at the restaurant “Bangerts”. The event is supported by the Kuldīga Municipality, the Kurzeme Planning Region, the State Culture Capital Foundation and the Latvian Historical Lands Program.
