YOU AND ME ON A WINTER EVENING

The concert will make Christmas sparkle to the joyful rhythms of Latvian retro music. For a light and uplifting festive mood, Orchestra RIGA and the soloists invite audiences on a journey 70 years back to the roots of Latvian popular music – to the beloved melodies that once captivated listeners on local radio stations.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Latvia’s intellectual and artistic community expressed its vision of the world through the language of art. It was a time when popular music was subject to ideological restrictions, yet it still managed to create enduring melodies. The music of this era is a sparkling testament to cultural history, rich in enduring value, with its scenes and stories brought to life throughout the evening by actors Marta Lovisa Jančevska and Imants Strads.

The musical legacy of Elga Igenberga and Ringolds Ore is deeply rooted in the foundations of Latvian popular music. These are melodies whose warmth, lightness and joie de vivre continue to captivate audiences in the 21st century, yet they are rarely heard in orchestral performance.

FEATURING

Orchestra RIGA
Soloists: Beāte Zviedre (soprano), Ieva Parša (mezzo-soprano), Rihards Millers (baritone)
Hosts: Marta Lovisa Jančevska and Imants Strads
Conductor: Valdis Butāns

PROGRAMME

The concert will feature orchestral arrangements (by Ilona Breģe, Vilnis Šmīdbergs, Aivars Krūmiņš, Emīls Zilberts and Madars Kalniņš) of songs by Igenberga and Ore, performed by Orchestra RIGA and the soloists. Enriched by stories and recollections selected by musicologist Daiga Mazvērsīte, interpreted by Imants Strads and Marta Lovisa Jančevska.

The concert “YOU AND I ON A WINTER EVENING” will make Christmas sparkle in the joyful spirit of retro music — on 17 and 21 December 2026 at 7:00 PM at VEF Culture Palace.

Tickets are available at Biļešu Paradīze box offices and online.