Pēteris Vasks Celebrates 80th Birthday with Anniversary Concert in his Hometown Aizpute

On 16 April 2026, exactly on the composer’s 80th birthday, Pēteris Vasks will return to his hometown of Aizpute for a special anniversary concert at St. John’s Church, beginning at 18:00. The composer will be joined by some of his closest musical minds: the Latvian Radio Choir, the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, and conductor Sigvards Kļava.

As spring blossoms across South Kurzeme, this concert will bring audiences together in the very place where Vasks spent his childhood and where the foundations of his creative journey were first laid.

Before the concert, a general public is welcome to meet the composer in the hall of Aizpute Cultural Centre, offering those interested the rare opportunity to chat with the maestro in person.

The concert programme features a selection of Vasks’ most distinctive works – compositions that embody his deeply emotional, inwardly focused, and spiritually rich musical language. The evening will include both choral and vocal-symphonic pieces: Savā tautā, The Fruit of Silence, Cosa devo fare, Agnus Dei, Musica Serena, Da pacem, Domine, Actus caritatis, and Mein Herr und mein Gott. These works reflect themes central to the composer’s oeuvre: the inner world of the individual, nature, faith, and hope.

A limited number of tickets are available at “Biļešu paradise” box offices and online. The concert will also be broadcast live on Latvijas Radio 3 and recorded in audiovisual form by the European classical music television channel ARTE in collaboration with Latvian Television.

The concert is part of the “Gems of South Kurzeme” series, presented within the Liepāja 2027 European Capital of Culture programme.

“Gems of South Kurzeme” reminds us that the power of European culture is rooted not only in metropolises but also in small towns – places where people live in close connection with their environment and develop personalities with a deep inner vision. Aizpute is one such place.

The South Kurzeme region, which includes Aizpute and Priekule, has given the world two outstanding composers: Pēteris Vasks and Ēriks Ešenvalds. This project pays tribute to that creative heritage and affirms the region’s importance in the European cultural space.

Vasks’ 80th anniversary concert in Aizpute will be a meaningful occasion for both the composer and his hometown – a shared musical experience and a reminder that small towns and proximity to nature are often fertile ground for creative growth and outstanding achievement in the arts and beyond.

The concert is organised by the Culture Department of South Kurzeme Municipality as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture” project “Gems of South Kurzeme”, with funding from the Liepāja City Municipality, South Kurzeme Region Municipality, and the Ministry of Culture. This event is supported by our principal partner for environmental education and sustainability is AS “CleanR Grupa” JCS, and the mobility partner – transportation company SIA “Lux Express Latvia” Ltd.

For more information

Kristīne Zvirbule
project executive producer
Email: kristine.zvirbule@gmail.com