Culture week: Valmiera Theatre guest shows, Lāčplēsis Day concert and a London exhibition

Indra Vilipsone, culture content editor at the publisher Rīgas Viļņi, has compiled for Jauns.lv a list of cultural events for 9–15 November, covering both Riga and options abroad.

Theatre and a concert in Riga

Valmiera Theatre will visit the New Hall of the Dailes Theatre on 14 and 15 November with the black comedy "The Lieutenant of Inishmore", directed by Mārtiņš Eihe. It follows Padraic, a lieutenant of the Irish National Liberation Army, and a cat named Tomasiņš. The production was first staged at the Valmiera Summer Theatre Festival in 2020, and the renewed version premiered on 2 August 2025. Theatre director Evita Ašeradena describes it as a play about the consequences of petty hatred, obsession and stupidity.

On Lāčplēsis Day, 11 November at 19:00, the Orchestra "Rīga" wind orchestra will give the concert "Nesu gaismu" ("I Carry Light") at Riga's Luther Church (Torņakalns Church). Two new works will be performed for the first time: Andris Dzenītis's "Nesu gaismu" and "Ritums" by Ilona Breģe, the orchestra's long-time director. Artūrs Oskars Mitrevics will conduct. Free tickets have been available since 4 November. The programme also includes works by Jānis Ivanovs, Emīls Dārziņš, Alfrēds Kalniņš and Rihards Dubra.

Dzenītis wrote the piece at the invitation of the orchestra's artistic director Valdis Butāns. After a break of more than ten years, it is the composer's third work for a wind orchestra. Its title was inspired by words written on his young son's shirt.

Abroad

The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra will perform in Warsaw at the "Eufonie" festival, which brings together the cultural heritage and contemporary creativity of Central and Eastern Europe. The programme features works by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, Jean Sibelius and Pēteris Vasks, with Kristīne Balanas joining the orchestra. Artistic director Guntis Kuzma describes it as a meeting of three Baltic Sea region musical worlds.

At Tate in London, the exhibition "The 90s: Art and Fashion" is on, curated by Edward Enninful OBE. It combines photography, fashion, art and design, including photographs by Juergen Teller, David Sims and Corinne Day, and works by Steve McQueen, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas and Yinka Shonibare. Collections by Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and John Galliano are also featured.