This summer in Dzintaru concert hall, Jurmala it is the eleventh time of the Summertime festival, held by the Latvian prominent soprano Inese Galante. The theme of this year is voice in all its appearances and manifestations – rough, tender, seductive, dancing, cheering. The most subtle musical instrument – the human voice, voice of brass and wood instruments, always distinctive with its unique palette of timbres. Thrilling, alarming, elevating, calming. As always, the program consists of wide variety of genres – from classical to jazz, popular and world music. Every listener will find an exceptional concert according to one`s musical taste.
10 August Lidia Baich. The Voice of the Violin
On the Summertime festival opening day it`s hostess and singer Inese Galante with her friends – violinist Lidia Baich, conductor Matthias Fletzberger and singer Anreas Schager – besides their performances will present the premiere of the film Magic Of The Violin, which will be accompanied by a special musical program, prepared by Lidia Baich and Matthias Fletzberger.
Lidia Baich started to practice the violin with her grandfather at the age of 4. She continued her studies in Vienna, winning her first international competition at 8 and earning the title „European Musician of the year” at 14. She plays a truly exquisite violin made by the famous Joseph Guarnerius del Gesú. The violin costs nearly 4 million euros.
Matthias Fletzberger has similar achievements to write in his CV: at age five he was admitted into Vienna Music University, at age twelve he won the first prize at the Jugend musiziert competition. Fletzberger is the winner of many prestigious competitions, including Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition.
The worldy acclaimed heroic tenor Andreas Schager who will delight the listeners with his golden voice, as described by The Independent. He has gathered most success as Rienzi and Siegfried in such opera houses as La Scala de Milan, Teatro Real de Madrid and Berlin State Opera. Schager has also performed at the BBC Proms.
Lidia Baich and Matthias Fletzberger will give masterclasses on the 11th of August at Jurmala Culture Centre. Everyone is welcomed to participate free of charge and hear the advice from professionals!
11 August
Canadian Brass. Music. Inspiration. Energy
The brass quintet Canadian Brass are legends of their genre, performing with the utmost quality and delivering unforgettable music experience for over 40 years, winners of Grammy and Echo Klassik prizes. They break down boundaries of musical genres and tehnical ability, playing a repertoire form baroque to diksilend and Broadway, from Monteverdi and Bach`s Art of Fugue to Rimsky-Korsakov`s Flight of the Bumblebee and countless arrangements of their own as well as specially commissioned pieces for the Canadian Brass. They pay special attention to make a contact with the audience. It`s impossible to predict their setlist, which vey likely will appear spontaneously, communicating with the listeners. And that`s what they are superb at. The organisers of the Summertime festival had already requested the Canadian band to play in the previous year, however they were so busy and in-demand it was impossible; now they are finally here! Besides the concert will close their Europe tour.
Canadian Brass is the most successful and the most legendary brass band in the world. Thet will also give a masterclass at the Jurmala Culture Centre.
12 August Andrea Motis & Joan Chamorro. Mediterranean Vibrations
A child prodigy, owner of a velvety voice for which she is compared with Nora Jones – a vocalist, saxaphonist and trumpetist Andrea Motis has made a dazzling international debut as a new bright musical talent. Collaboration with Catalonian music grand-master, saxophonist, basist and her mentor Joan Chamorro has a vital role in her musical career. At the age of 15 Motis and Chamorro release their first album. They will perform Portuguese bossa nova, French and Spanish music and well-known melodies. It will be a perfect musical evening for those who yearn for the southern Sun.
“At the Inese Galante`s Talents competition we find musical pearls and help to develop their talent. The same thing does Joan – a musician with the capital “M”, who invests his musical skill in the young talents and helps them to become stars,” says Diana Galante, director of the festival.
13 August Bel Canto Feast With Inese Galante
The best works of the golden repertoire of the Italian opera share some similar qualities: well-crafted melodies with an unforgettable suppleness and almost transparent lightness; a tuneful harmony which can reflect in the listenter with it`s elegance and beautiful simplicity an inner harmony, a feeling of balance as if looking in a mirror. Or one can simply feel a genuine joy. Yet this cheerful feeling doubles in intensity when such a musical piece serves for a place where two outstanding interpreters meet for a conversation, a dialogue, a duo. In the fourth day of festival it is time for a duo evening –Inese Galante besides herself has invited exquisite Latvian singers.
Under the baton of Ekhart Wycik we will hear the highly demanded bass-baritone Egils Silins, the soloist of Latvian National Opera, Ilona Bagele (mezzo soprano), Inese Galante`s long-time partner on stage, countertenor Sergejs Jegers and soloist in The Latvian National Opera, Raimonds Bramanis (tenor).
The concert conductor is Ekhart Wycik – a very special and divergent musician with broad knowledge and great experience.The day after the concert Ekhart will give a masterclass in Jurmala, revealing the secrets, how vocalists can make a better connection with the conductor and the listeners.
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14 August
The Swingles. A Cappella Grandmasters in Jurmala
The pride of London`s vocal ensembles The Swingles will arrive at the fifth Summertime festival concert. The a cappella singer group is one of the best professional vocal ensembles today. With a program ranging from The Beatles to classical music.
“It`s not a secret that a cappella genre is very popular in Latvia. Yet, when we talk about The Swingles, one must emphasize that their performance creates a feeling of an orchestra being on the stage, yet all the effects are created with voice, demonstrating it`s limitless aptitude and that the voice has practically no boundaries… The Swingles, heirs of the legendary English vocal ensemble The Swingle Singers, love to experiment, that`s why one will find everything in their program: from contemporary composers, Piazzolla, The Beatles to golden classics.
15 August Joey Morant, Daniil Kramer. New York-Moscow-New Orleans
By the huge demand of the festival audience, this will be the second year for the legendary jazz pianist Daniel Kramer to visit the festival. In a program dedicated to the jazz genius Louis Armstrong, Kramer will perform with the virtuoso trompetist from USA, master of scat Joey Morant. This surely will turn out as on of the most unforgettable summer experiences in the Latvian jazz summer.
Joey Morant is on of the leading jazz trompetists at present, a devoted interpreter of Louis Armstrongs work. He is called Hot Lips and Mr. Entertainer for his uttermost tehnical capabilities. Morant has played with Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Ray Charles, James Brown.
16 AUGUST GALA GALANTE
The traditional concert on the last day of the Summertime festival will be a brilliant, unforgetabble culmination of musical festivity created by Inese Galante, as always, it willl hold many surprises for the listeners. Together with Inese we will hear a remarkable group of musicians who at the same time are her close friends. Soprano of the St Petersburg school, well-known by Latvian audience Olesja Petrova, harismatic Latvian tenor Raimonds Bramanis. Inese`s Latvian colleagues and responsive partners at stage, top-level vocalists each in their own genre – Sergejs Jegers and Intars Busulis. On of the best Latvian crossover ensembles – Da Gamba. And the two prominent personalities of jazz – pianist Daniel Kramer and trompetist Joey Morant. There are other musical surprises to be expected!
