Flights to and from Rīga International Airport resumed as of 9 a.m. local time April 20, the Latvian carrier airBaltic has announced on its Web site.

The airline listed flights to various locations as scheduled to depart, including Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway.

Airspace over Latvia had been closed to passenger traffic since April 15, when a number of European countries restricted travel because of concerns about volcanic ash from Iceland. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in south Iceland began spewing ash in late March. As it reached the jet stream, the ash traveled southeast toward Great Britain, Scandinavia and northern Europe.

By the morning of April 20 the ash over much of Europe had dissipated enough to allow some airlines to resume safe operations to some destinations.

The airspace restrictions stranded passengers in Rīga, as well as those trying to get back to Latvia from abroad.

Because of continuing concern about volcanic activity, travel is still restricted in parts of Great Britain, according to a notice on the Web site of London’s Heathrow Airport. While restrictions were lifted for three airports in Scotland—Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow—they remain in place for Heathrow, Stansted and Southampton. Britain’s National Air Traffic Services warned that another ash cloud could be forming as volcanic activity strengthens.

Passengers on airBaltic flights that were canceled, according to the airline’s Web site, may transfer to the next available flight or apply for a refund of unused tickets.

The International Air Transport Association, of which airBaltic is a member, on April 19 criticized European governments for their decision-making in the face of the ash cloud.

“We are far enough into this crisis to express our dissatisfaction on how governments have managed it—with no risk assessment, no consultation, no coordination, and no leadership,” IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani said in a press release. European officials made their decision to close airspace based on theoretical models, not on facts, Bisignani said. The decision has cost airlines USD 200 million a day in lost revenue.

Flights to and from Rīga remained canceled into April 20 as concerns continue about volcanic ash spreading from Iceland to continental Europe, according to a message posted on Latvian carrier airBaltic’s Web site.

“The home base of airBaltic in Rīga, Latvia, remains in restricted airspace and no flights can be operated until further notice,” the message read. “Passengers are requested not to travel to the airports.”

Flights began to be canceled on April 15 as the ash spread from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in south Iceland. Airspace in Great Britain was the first to be affected, followed by Scandinavia and much of the rest of northern Europe.

Reports early on April 19 suggesting that the volcano was quieting were replaced later by an announcement from Britain’s National Air Traffic Services that the eruption had instead intensified.

“This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working,” according to NATS.

Air traffic officials closed the airspace in many countries because of concerns that the volcanic ash could shut down aircraft engines.

Flights were canceled to at least 9 a.m. April 20 Latvian time, airBaltic announced. However, transit flights over Latvia at an altitude from 6-10 kilometers were allowed, a Ministry of Transport spokesperson said.

Almost all flights to and from Estonia’s Tallinn Airport also were canceled. A Lufthansa flight from Munich was still expected to arrive at 9 a.m. local time, according to information posted on the airport’s Web site early April 20. Lufthansa on April 19 renewed most of its long-distance flights, the company announced on its Web site.

Vilnius International Airport announced on its Web site that Lithuanian airspace has reopened, but noted that the decision to fly is up to the pilot of the airplane. Many flights to and from Vilnius remained canceled.

IX Starptautiskie latviešu jauno mūziķu meistarkursi “Brīvība mūzikā” notiks Siguldas Mākslu skolā “Baltais Flīģelis” no 2010. gada 15.-24. jūlijam. Meistarkursi veidoti, lai apvienotu jaunos mūziķus no vairākām pasaules valstīm, kur kopīgi var mūzicēt un nodibināt kontaktus un izveidot sadarbības iespējas.

Meistarkursu mākslinieciskā vadītāja Dace Aperāne ziņo: “Uz IX Starptautiskiem latviešu jauno mūziķu meistarkursiem tiek aicināti mūzikas vidusskolu audzēkņi un mūzikas audzēkņi un mūzikas augstskolu studenti, mūzikas izglītības iestāžu jaunie skolotāji un citi interesenti… tiks lasītas lekcijas, notiks instrumentālās un vokālās meistarklases, kompozicijas, mūzikas teorijas un pedagoģiskie-metodiskie semināri, kameransambļa, kora un orķestra mēģinājumi, kā arī koncerti”.

Meistarklašu vadītāji būs mākslinieki un mācībspēki no Latvijas un ārzemēm. Klavierspēles kursus vadīs Juris Kalnciems (Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas Akadēmijas profesors), Uga Grants (ASV), Sandra Mogensen (Kanāda) un Vestards Šimkus (Latvija); klavieru improvizāciju Raimonds Petrauskis (JVLMA profesors); klavierpavadījumu Ventis Zilberts (JVLMA profesors); ērģeles Tālivaldis Deksnis (JVLMA profesors) un Rasma Lielmane (Meksikas konservatorijas profesore); altu Andra Dārziņa (Štutgartes Mūzikas un mākslas augstskolas profesore Vācijā); čellu Jānis Laurs (Adelaides simfoniskā orķestra čella grupas koncertmeistars Austrālijā); kontrabasu Einārs Upatnieks (Latvijas nacionālais simfoniskais orķestris); flautu Helēne Navasē (Dānija); klarneti Egīls Šēfers (Latvija); oboju Egīls Upatnieks (LNSO); fagotu Nils Anders V. Larsens (Dānija); mežragu Dāvids M.A.P. Palmkvists (Dānija); bet sitaminstrumentus Rihards Zaļupe un Larisa Puzule (Latvija). Vokālos kursus vadīs Antra Bigača (JVLMA pasniedzēja un Latvijas Nacionālās Operas soliste), Laila Saliņa (ASV) un Naidžels Šmits (Francija).

Kameransambļus vadīs Gunta Sproģe (JVLMA profesore), Pēteris Plakidis (JVLMA profesors), Juris Žvikovs (JVLMA docents), Dace Bičkovska (Rīgas pedagoģijas un izglītības vadības akadēmijas lektore), Egīls Šēfers (Latvija) un “Carion” pūtēju kvinteta dalībnieki. Klavieru duetus mācīs Normunds Vīksne un Antra Vīksne (JVLMA); deju Vija Vētra (ASV); un džezu Džaneta Lavsone (New School, ASV), Ilona Kudiņa (ASV) un Raimonds Petrauskis (JVLMA).

Kora diriģenti būs Jānis Baltiņš (J. Mediņa mūzikas vidusskola) un Anita Kuprisa (ASV), bet orķestra diriģents Normunds Dreģis (LNO). Kompozīciju un muzikoloģiju mācīs Andris Dzenītis (Latvija), Rolands Kronlaks (JVLMA), Artūrs Maskats (LNO, JVLMA), Imants Mežaraups (RPIVA, Rīgas Doma kora skola), Dana Pols Perna (ASV), Orests Silabriedis (Latvijas Radio), Anitra Tumševica (Latvija) un Pēteris Vasks (Latvija).

Vēl kursos arī kā lektori piedalīsies Boriss Avramecs (RPIVA profesors), Gunda Vaivode (Latvijas Radio “Klasika”), Raimonds Petrauskis un Anda Beitāne (JVLMA), Valdis Bernhofs (RDKS) un Laura Adlers (Kanāda).

Meistarkursu tradīcija iesākta 1985. gadā Kanādā, kad notika mūzikas nometne Mount Orford un kopš tā laika Latvijā jau ir organizētas astoņas nometnes-meistarkursi. Pieteikties uz meistarkursiem var veikt nosūtot pieteikuma anketu pa e-pastu: guntars.zvejnieks@gmail.com. Pieteikuma anketa un papildus informācija atrodamas interneta lapā www.baltaisfligelis.lv. Pieteikšanās termiņš ir 15. maijs.