XI International Festival “Vivat Curlandia!” Returns to Bauska, Iecava, and Mežotne
From July 11 to 18, the festival featuring Baroque and medieval music will take place in historic venues across three towns, with artists from six countries.
The 11th edition of the Kurzeme–Zemgale Dukes Kettler era music festival “Vivat Curlandia!” will be held from July 11 to 18 in Bauska, Iecava, and Mežotne. Producer Aija Dimza says the program offers a musical journey from early Italian Baroque to medieval Europe. Performers will come from Latvia, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries.
Concerts will take place at Bauska Castle, Bauska Holy Spirit Church, Mežotne Church, Iecava Culture House, and especially at the recently restored Iecava Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church, whose origins date back to Duke Gothard Kettler, will host professional concert life again after a long break.
On the opening day, July 11, two concerts are scheduled at Iecava Church. In the afternoon, Alessandro Stradella’s opera-oratorio “La Susanna” (c. 1681) will be performed for the first time in Latvia by the Baroque opera theatre “Collegium Musicum Riga” under conductor Māris Kupčs. The evening concert “Les Lectures de ténèbres” will feature François Couperin’s Leçons de ténèbres by candlelight.
On July 12, a sacred music program “When Heaven Touches Earth” will take place at Bauska Holy Spirit Church, and harpsichordist Tatjana Vorobjova will perform Renaissance music at Bauska Castle. On July 17, soprano Elīna Šimkus and Italian lutenist Mauro Pinciaroli will give a romantic concert at Mežotne Church. The festival closes on July 18 with “Neymann Ensemble” performing “Tra Venezia e Bologna” and the Dutch ensemble Sibil•la Ensemble presenting medieval songs and dances in “Dancing May”.
The festival has received the EFFE Label 2026–2027 from the European Festivals Association, recognizing its artistic quality and international cooperation.
