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
Opinions
20 May 2012
Bitter Sweet World Hockey Championships for Latvia
With everything said and done, Latvia placed 10th at this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. Victories against Germany and Italy as well as a goal differential advantage over Germany and Switzerland who finished with the same number of points was enough to propel Latvia from last year’s 13th place finish to 10th.
News
19 May 2012
President in Chicago for NATO summit
Latvian President Andris Bērziņš is on a three-day visit to Chicago to attend the NATO defense alliance summit and to meet with the local Latvian community, according to his press office.
Reviews
16 May 2012
Vasks compilation of works exceptional
Though Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks has achieved success and fame with compositions for solo instruments, string quartets, orchestras, piano, among many other instruments, some of his most powerful and memorable works are his choir songs. The addition of text and language (particularly the Latvian language), in combination with the exceptional skill of the world-class Latvian Radio Choir, make his choir songs particularly haunting and emotionally affecting.
In the forums
Latvians .. what have we done across the globe? posted by marisr on 20 May 2012
The most beautiful country in the world................. posted by peter B on 19 May 2012
Can Latvia be trusted by NATO? posted by Andrejs on 15 May 2012
Cultural Diplomacy & Sustainable Development - Geneva posted by ICD Academy on 15 May 2012
Political & Economic Inequalities: Bridging the Gap between Civil Society and the Public & Private Sectors posted by ICD Academy on 15 May 2012
