Author: Andris Straumanis

Novel from Australia examines fate of Latvian soldiers detained in Sweden

Andris Straumanis | 

Oskars Lapa’s latest book, the novel Castle of Light, focuses on a group of Latvian soldiers who escape the Red Army’s siege of Danzig during World War II and flee across the Baltic Sea to Sweden, only to be put in detention to await their fate.

Lapa, who lives in Australia, notes that the novel is inspired by actual events.

“Within weeks of their arrival,” according to a description of the book posted by First Edition Book Sales, “the Swedish Cabinet concludes a secret deal with Soviet Russia. In exchange for Polish coal vital to Sweden’s steel industry, the Swedish government will deport to the Red Army all the military refugees who have fought on the Eastern Front.

“Castle of Light,” the description continues, “starkly dramatises the collision between humanity and politics that generates hunger strikes, suicide and murder. Coiled within the drama is Sweden’s unique past that underlies the motivation to undertake such an abhorrent act.

“Castle of Light starkly dramatises the collision between humanity and politics that generates hunger strikes, suicide and murder. Coiled within the drama is Sweden’s unique past that underlies the motivation to undertake such an abhorrent act.”

This is Lapa’s third book. He previously wrote Adelina’s Garden (2010) and The Path of the Moon (1995).

Castle of Light is available for AUD 25 (plus postage and handling) from the Sydney Latvian Centre, P.O. Box 457, Strathfield, NSW 2135, Australia, as well as direct from the author, Oskars Lapa, P.O. Box 210, Kurmond, NSW 2757, Australia.

Castle of Light

Castle of Light is Oskar Lapa’s third book.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

PMLP: Last year, 14,450 residents of Latvia permanently moved abroad

Andris Straumanis | 

A total of 14,450 residents of Latvia moved abroad permanently last year, according to data compiled by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde, or PMLP).

More than half of those, the office reported in a March 8 press release, moved to Great Britain and Ireland.

In all, a total of 72,292 former residents of Latvia now list their permanent residence abroad, according to the PMLP. However, the total number of residents who have moved abroad is much greater. According to the 2011 census, some 190,000 people have left Latvia since 2000.

The PMLP press release noted that some Latvian residents have chosen to move to “exotic” locations, such as Macedonia, Ghana, Jordan and Iraq.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Laima Vaikule sets 15-city tour aimed at Russian fans in North America

Andris Straumanis | 

Laima Vaikule

Latvian singer Laima Vaikule, who is especially popular in Russia, begins a 15-city tour of North America on March 8. Appearing with her will be Jānis Stībelis and vocal trio Lady’s Sweet. (Publicity photo)

Latvia-born singer Laima Vaikule, backed by the female trio Lady’s Sweet and with a guest appearance by singer Jānis Stībelis (who also uses the stage name Jay Stever), kicks off a month-long tour of the United States and Canada with a March 8 concert in the Seattle area.

The concert tour, which will visit 15 cities, is aimed primarily at Russian-speaking audiences and is supported by the Russian-language television network RTVI.

Vaikule is best known as a singer who since the mid-1980s has been popular among Russian audiences. She has worked closely with Latvian popular composer Raimonds Pauls. Vaikule also is an actress, director and choreographer.

Vaikule’s 1996 concert program in Latvia, Russia and the United States earned her a Great Music Award (Lielā mūzikas balva).

Vaikule has released seven albums, according to her website, with the most recent being last year’s Новые песни.

Lady’s Sweet is a relatively new vocal trio that includes singers Karīna Tropa, Vineta Elksne and Jolanta Strikaite.

Stībelis, known as a pop and rhythm-and-blues singer, has seen a certain degree of success in Latvia and Russia. He won the Jaunais Vilnis (New Wave) competition in 2002. Stībelis has released a number of albums, the most recent being 2010’s Diapozitīvi.

Concerts are scheduled in:

  • Washington at 8 p.m. March 8 in the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds.
  • California at 7 p.m. March 10 in the San Francisco Scottish Rite Masonic Center‎, 2850 19th Ave., San Francisco.
  • California at 7 p.m. March 11 in the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 West 8th St., Los Angeles.
  • California at 7:30 p.m. March 12 in the Sherwood Auditorium (Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego), 700 Prospect St., La Jolla.
  • Texas at 7 p.m. March 17 in the Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Road, Dallas.
  • Florida at 8 p.m. March 20 in the N.M.B. Performing Arts Theater, 17011 N.E. 19th Ave., North Miami Beach.
  • Illinois at 8 p.m. March 23 in the Christian Heritage Academy, 315 Waukegan Road, Northfield (near Chicago).
  • Ontario at 8 p.m. March 24 in the Global Kingdom Ministries, 1250 Markham Road, Scarborough (near Toronto).
  • Michigan at 7 p.m. March 25 in the Shriners Silver Garden Events Center, 24350 Southfield Road, Southfield (near Detroit).
  • Ohio ata 8 p.m. March 27 at the Tri-C Eastern Campus, 4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills (near Cleveland).
  • Pennsylvania at 8 p.m. March 29 in the Archbishop Wood High School, 655 York Road, Warminter (near Philadelphia).
  • New York at 8 p.m. March 30 in the Whitman Theater, Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Road, Brooklyn.
  • Massachusetts at 7:30 p.m. March 31 in the John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St., Boston.
  • New Jersey at 6:30 p.m. April 1 in the FORM Theater, 314 Main St., Metuchen.
  • Maryland at 8 p.m. April 3 in the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore.

For further information about Vaikule, visit her website, laima.com or her Facebook page. More information about Lady’s Sweet is found on the group’s website, ladyssweet.com, or on its Facebook page. Details on Stībelis may be found on janisstibelis.lv. Further details about the concert tour are available on the website www.rtviprojects.com.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.