Orchestra RIGA’s Summer Classics 2025: symphonic music at Riga Cathedral

Every August, Orchestra RIGA invites symphonic music listeners to immerse in the grandeur of orchestra music within the acoustics of Riga Cathedral. The annual concert series has become a signature music event in Riga’s summer concert calendar where Orchestra RIGA and Riga Cathedral organ meet in majestic harmony. This year’s concerts feature two distinctive programs, each offering a refined dialogue between eras, styles, and sonorities. Under the direction of Latvian conductors Valdis Butāns and Guntis Kuzma, showcasing masterpieces from Bach, Mozart and Debussy to contemporary Latvian composition master Rihards Dubra and Dutch composer Johan de Meij.

August 5 | 19:00 at Riga Cathedral
BACH. DUBRA. DEBUSSY.

Orchestra RIGA
Conductor: Valdis Butāns
Organ: Aigars Reinis

The first concert offers a vibrant fusion of Baroque, Impressionism, and modernism. Opening with J. S. Bach’s powerful Concerto in D minor after Vivaldi, the program also includes the monumental E-flat major Prelude and Fugue, BWV 552—here in an arrangement that brings out the full richness of the wind orchestra. The unique acoustics of Riga Cathedral lend a transcendent quality to this complex contrapuntal music. Organist Aigars Reinis will interpret these iconic works on the Cathedral’s instrument, known for its rich and colorful timbre. A more introspective tone is introduced with Claude Debussy’s “The Sunken Cathedral” (La Cathédrale engloutie), a haunting vision rendered here in an evocative orchestration by Jean-Louis Roques. This is paired with Debussy’s ethereal Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, arranged for winds, opening up new textures while retaining the dreamy atmosphere of the original. The concert concludes with two works by Latvian composer Rihards Dubra, whose music evokes a sacred stillness and deep emotional resonance. His Toccata and Awaiting the Dawn create a contemplative finale – music that bridges liturgical tradition with modern expressivity.

August 26 | 19:00 at Riga Cathedral 
BACH. MOZART. DE MEIJ.

Orchestra RIGA
Conductor: Guntis Kuzma
Bassoon: Raimonds Gulbis
Organ: Kristīne Adamaite

The second concert in the Summer Classics series offers a varied program that brings together the clarity of Johann Sebastian Bach, the elegance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the bold sonic architecture of contemporary Dutch composer Johan de Meij. Organist Kristīne Adamaite brings out the expressive range of Riga Cathedral’s historic instrument in two of Bach’s notable organ works—Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544, and the graceful Prelude and Fugue in B-flat, BWV 560 , illuminating the cathedral’s acoustics with Baroque depth and lyricism. Mozart’s masterful writing for winds is featured in his Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, KV 191. Alongside this concerto, shorter gems such as the Leipzig Gigue and the lyrical Andante in F major highlight the composer’s refined sense of form and charm. Complementing these classical works, Johan de Meij’s compositions The Red Tower and Echoes of San Marco present a contrast – sonically expansive, rhythmically rich, and steeped in modern orchestral color. His music adds a dynamic dimension to the program. Together, these works create a concert that spans centuries and styles, united by musical architecture.

For over a decade, the Summer Classics series has presented wind and organ repertoire in concerts that reimagine classical works for modern audiences. With thoughtful programming and inspired collaborations between Orchestra RIGA and Latvia’s leading musicians, the concerts attract seasoned listeners and newcomers alike. Orchestra RIGA’s artistic team continually explores the boundaries of what wind orchestra can achieve in dialogue with the organ—an instrument that is both architectural and expressive, especially when placed at the heart of one of the Baltics’ most iconic sacred spaces – Riga Cathedral.

SUMMER CLASSICS concert series are presented with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation and the Riga City Council. Tickets are available at “Biļešu Paradīze” ticket offices, at the Riga Cathedral box office and online.