Memorial concert honors composer Boris Reznik at VEF Culture Palace

A memorial concert dedicated to composer Boris Reznik was held at the VEF Culture Palace on Tuesday evening. The event was marked by heartfelt emotion, with the audience repeatedly rising to give the performers standing ovations.

The stage brought together a younger generation of singers — Ieva Sutugova, Aija Vītoliņa, Laima Miltiņa-Rode, Ivo Grīsniņš Grīslis, Juris Jope and Miks Galvanovskis — alongside the quartet "Eolika" in its longtime lineup of Olga Rajecka, Ilona Stepanova, Dainis Dobelnieks and Viktors Zemgals. Together they performed both Reznik's widely known hits and lesser-heard songs.

An emotional tribute to a colleague

One of the concert's most moving moments came when the composer's longtime stage partners — Tālis Gžibovskis, Zigmunds Žukovskis, Gints Žilinskis and Vladimirs Lavrinovičs — performed the song "Sikspārņa blūzs" ("Bat's Blues"), which composer Zigmars Liepiņš had once dedicated to Reznik. A recording of the concert is expected to be broadcast on TV24 soon.

A legend of Latvian music

Boris Reznik (1947–2025) is regarded as one of the defining figures of Latvian popular music in the final decades of the 20th century. He founded and served as artistic director first of a band and later of the quartet "Eolika." His talent produced numerous songs that became staples for generations of Latvians, including "Pasaule, pasaulīt," "Es neesmu Džeina Fonda," "Tava atnākšana," "Tu laimīgi smējies sapnī" and "Daugava."

His most internationally recognized work is the 1989 song "Atmostas Baltija" ("The Baltics Are Awakening"), which became known as the anthem of the legendary Baltic Way. Although the composer has passed away, his songs continue to be performed and enjoyed by thousands of listeners.