Concert Dedicated to Poet Aleksandrs Čaks to Be Held in Riga's Victory Park on Lāčplēsis Day

A concert commemorating Latvia's freedom fighters will be held in Victory Park in Riga on Lāčplēsis Day, 11 November, at 7 p.m. The highlight of the evening will be “Rīga, mūžības skartā” (“Riga, Touched by Eternity”), a concert programme created by composer Jānis Lūsēns and centred on the work of poet Aleksandrs Čaks. In Latvia, Lāčplēsis Day is dedicated to the memory of those who fought for the country's independence.

Anniversaries as inspiration

This year Riga marks 825 years since its first mention in historical sources, while Čaks would be turning 125. These events also inspired the programme, which weaves the story of Riga together with Latvian history and the memory of those who fell in the Freedom Struggles.

Event producer Zane Auškāpa says Lāčplēsis Day is a time to be especially aware of the price of freedom and the importance of keeping a connection with history and with the people who fought for Latvia. The organisers want to give people a chance to gather, honour the freedom fighters and rediscover Riga's cultural heritage through music.

The programme

The band “JUUK” opens the concert at 7 p.m., “The Sound Poets” perform at 8 p.m., and “Rīga, mūžības skartā” begins at 9 p.m. It is based on Čaks' poem “Mūžības skartie” and the poet's love for his city.

The story will be sung by Ingus Ulmanis, Atis Ieviņš, Raimonds Celms and Ērika Eglija-Grāvele. The musicians will be joined on stage by an accompanying ensemble led by Lūsēns: Jānis Lūsēns senior (keyboards), Jānis Lūsēns junior (bass), Harijs Gūtmanis (percussion), Aivars Gudrais (guitar), Rihards Šiliņš and Andrejs Pogrebņaks (trumpets), Roberts Brants (tuba), Egīls Šķetris (trombone) and Dainis Tarasovs (French horn). The folk dance group “Lauga” will also take part.