Rapper Gio Pika to perform in Riga with a symphony orchestra
Ossetian rapper Gio Pika will give a concert with a symphony orchestra at Xiaomi Arena in Riga on 21 November. The programme combines his best-known songs with new material.
Rapper Gio Pika will perform at Xiaomi Arena in Riga on 21 November, this time accompanied by a symphony orchestra. He is an Ossetian artist whose work blends rap, hip-hop and chanson.
Who is Gio Pika
Georgy Dzhiyev, known by the stage name Gio Pika, was born in 1978 in Tbilisi into a family of musicians. Although he was born in Georgia, he is Ossetian by ethnicity. His music combines recitative, hip-hop beats and elements of chanson, while his lyrics often feature stories from people's lives and themes linked to the criminal world.
One of his best-known songs is "Fontanchik s delfinom" ("Fountain with a Dolphin"), released in 2016. It is about life in a prison colony for those serving life sentences. A video for the song, filmed against a prison backdrop, later appeared on YouTube. Other well-known works include "Bujno Golova", "Gde proshla ti" and "Listopadom". Over his career he has released a number of studio albums, singles and music videos.
What to expect
The programme includes Gio Pika's most popular songs as well as new material, with the familiar tracks performed with symphonic accompaniment. The team says it will pay special attention to stage lighting and visual design.
Connection to Riga
Riga holds a special place in the artist's concert history: his European tour began here. Before one of his earlier large shows, he released a song dedicated to the Latvian audience, "Sveiki Riga".
