Song festivals
Expressing the Latvian soul
Song festivals have been part of Latvian culture since the 19th century. Both in Latvia and abroad, they have served as a focal point for not only defining and regenerating Latvian culture, but also as a means of political expression. And, above all, they have been a call for unity. Here we present a growing collection of stories, photographs, videos and other material related to Latvian song festivals.
Latest story
53rd Arts Festival shows Latvians ‘down under’ still going strong
January 12, 2011
As the Latvian choristers filed up on stage you couldnt stop pinching yourself. It was just after Christmas, just under 30 degrees Celsius, quite pleasant for this time of year. Latvia itself was covered by a thick, woolly blanket of snow. Winter had well and truly set in, ready for the long haul.
Under the direction of Laura Rokpelne-Mičule, the men's choir performs "Jūŗa, plašā jūŗa" in Symphony Center during 2002 U.S. song festival in Chicago. (Photo by Andris Straumanis)
Song festival archive
Bērni, tie esat jūs, mūsu zelts!
Direktore: Skolu jaunatnes svētki ieliek lūpās dziesmu, kājās deju
Svētku saviļņojums nepieciešams ikkatram latvietim
After the festival: Hangover or withdrawal?
Kultūras dienas papildina latvietības pūru
Computer crash doesn’t stop festival success
West Coast song festival gets under way
Šie svētki ir, lai vienotu mūsu tautu nākotnei
State TV also streams song festival events
Song festival events to air on radio, TV, Web
Library opens online exhibit about song festivals
Koncerts Īrijā varētu būt aizsākums jauniem dziesmu svētkiem
Extra song festival tickets go on sale June 7
Bank of Latvia releases coin honoring song festivals
More festival tickets to go on sale after June 10
500 diaspora Latvians to be among song festival performers
Dublin’s eLVe joins Irish choir for April 5 concert
Photo exhibit examines song festival tradition
Culture minister wants more song festival tickets
Rīga song festival tickets selling quickly
Ticket prices announced for Latvian song festival
Milwaukee begins planning for next U.S. song festival
Indianapolis festival seeks to erase deficit
Indianapolis song fest runs July 4-8
Gaŗezers songfest draws 1,200 spectators
More than 500 performers set for Gaŗezers festival
Australia marks 50th annual arts festival
One choir singer’s view of the song festival
Why did we cry at ‘Eslingena’?
Song fest visitors to see normal border delays
UNESCO proclaims song festivals as masterpieces
San Francisco festival brings out the sun
Song festival donates profit to Gaŗezers
Reunion visitors remember Auseklis high school
A song festival diary: Final day
A song festival diary: Third day
A song festival diary: Second day
A song festival diary: First day
Festival history
2009: 13th Latvian Song Festival in Canada, Hamilton
2008: 24th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
2007: 12th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Indianapolis
2005: Gaŗezera Dziesmu dienas, Three Rivers, Mich.
2004: 12th Latvian Song Festival in Canada, Toronto
2003: 23rd All Latvian Festival, Rīga
2003:14th West Coast Latvian Song Festival, San Francisco
2002: 11th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Chicago
2001: Dziesmu un Deju svētki Rīgai 800
2000: 11th Latvian Song Festival in Canada, Toronto
1998: 22nd All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1997: 10th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Cleveland
1993: 21st All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1990: 20th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1988: 8th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Indianapolis
1985: 19th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1983: 7th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Milwaukee
1980: 18th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1978: 6th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Boston
1977: 17th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1973: 16th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1973: 5th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Cleveland
1970: 15th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1968: 4th Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Cleveland
1965: 14th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1963: 3rd Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Cleveland
1962: 1st West Coast Latvian Song Festival, Seattle
1960: 13th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1958: 2nd Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., New York
1955: 12th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1953: 1st Latvian Song Festival in the U.S., Chicago
1950: 11th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1948: 10th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1938: 9th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1933: 8th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1931: 7th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1926: 6th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1910: 5th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1895: 4th All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1888: 3rd All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1880: 2nd All Latvian Festival, Rīga
1873: 1st All Latvian Festival, Rīga
What's new
Blogs
22 May 2013
Auļi 10th anniversary album features new arrangements of compositions
In celebration of their 10 year anniversary, drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi have released a ‘best of’ compilation entitled Dižducis (Lauska CD042).
News
16 May 2013
Nelsons named music director of Boston Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, who has led the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the United Kingdom since 2008, has been appointed the new music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
News
09 May 2013
Saeima approves dual citizenship
After several hours of debate, the Latvian parliament on May 9 approved legislation that will allow dual citizenship for many individuals, including World War II-era exiles and their descendants.
In the forums
Let them eat pirogi.................. posted by peter B on 22 May 2013
Georgians on the war path posted by Mr L L on 18 May 2013
Andris Nelsons >> Boston posted by Ivars Graudins on 16 May 2013
Saulanais Maijs posted by Aleksejs on 15 May 2013
Happy Mothers Day to all LOL ladies. posted by Bruno the Lett on 12 May 2013
