On 18 July, the First Operetta Festival was celebrated with a charity concert “With Love” at the Ikķile Lutheran Church with soloists Evita Zālīte, Juris Vizbulis and pianist Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska, head of the Latvian Operetta Foundation.
The concert was also attended by the talented young student of the 2nd violin class of Ikšķile Music School Amanda Patjanko.
The programme includes “Close Your Eyes and Smile” and “Spanish Romance” by Emīls Dārziņš, “Laimīte” by Jāzeps Vītols, “Moonbeams in a String” by Jāzeps Mediņš, “Land of Dreams” by Bruno Skulte and other beautiful solo songs by Latvian composers, as well as works for violin.
Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska, Head of the Latvian Operetta Foundation, says: “We want to start the first Operetta Festival with charity, with a concert dedicated to the revival of the Operetta Theatre. I am convinced that people in Latvia need operetta – This is evidenced by the full houses, the good feedback from the audience and professionals, and the responsiveness and interest of the artists. By starting a new festival, we want to thank God with this music and, symbolising the rebirth of Operetta Theatre, plant a seed of love for the future by supporting new talent. The proceeds of the concert will be donated to support Amanda Patjanko, a talented upcoming violinist, to purchase a violin to further her musical development. She and all of us share a love of music.”
The young violinist Amanda, who played a self-composed cycle “Amanda’s Tales” and won 3rd place in this year’s Latvian Music School Music Creativity Competition “Skaņuraksti Ādaži”, is described by her violin teacher Karlīna Īvāne as a talented, creative budding musician and admires her stamina and great ability to concentrate.
On the choice of musical instrument, she says: “My mum said – you can choose any instrument except the accordion”. Amanda loves to perform, so she enters competitions at Tīnūži Primary School and chooses her own music. She never misses an opportunity to perform. The teacher says that Amanda can also be trusted to organise violin demonstrations. This winter, when she took her violin to the children in the creative groups, she made her own plan and came up with “violin sound riddles” and questions for the little ones. Amanda also surprised the teacher with a video of herself playing the new Eurovision top song. The girl is always excited when the holidays are coming up, which she will spend at her grandmother’s in the countryside with her musical sister and brother, because there she can play the violin from morning till night. Amanda has an unwavering conviction: “I want to become a famous violinist”!
Soloist Evita Zālīte says that “the idea of the concert is based on gratitude for God’s gifts and talents that we, as musicians, have been given. A gift is also a heart that can see and feel. Putting it all together gives rise to a great joy and a desire to share”.
As you know, on 18 July, for the first time in Latvia, the Operetta Festival took place in Ikšķilė, where various events took place throughout the day – a charity concert “With Love!”, meetings with favourite operetta soloists, a musical theatre performance for children “Paukojam un šmaukojam”, a GALĀ concert and waltz evening, attractions for children, a market, photo sessions in costumes of operetta heroes, etc.The concerts were attended by soloists Sonora Vaice, Ingus Pētersons, Jolanta Strikaite, Evita Zālīte, Dainis Skutelis, Nauris Indzeris, Marlēna Keine, Arturs Mangulis, Juris Vizbulis, etc, dancers, orchestra, Madars Kalniņš with jazz band, Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska and well-known actors. Festival director Valdis Lūriņš, conductor Guntars Bernāts, choreographer Alberts Kivlenieks, costume designer Jurate Jurjāne-Silakaktiņa, set designer Oskars Dreģis.
