Launching the month of Liepāja’s 400th anniversary celebration, the Liepāja Holy Trinity Cathedral on Saturday, 1 March 2025, at 17:00 will host a sacred music concert, “Caur gaismu nāk un sudrabs top” (Through Light Cometh Silver Shine). This event brings under single musical umbrella newly composed works by Liepāja-spirited composers Ēriks Ešenvalds, Jānis Lūsēns, and Andris Kontauts, paired with samples from the cathedral’s historical sheet music collection, creating a harmonious bridge between past and present.
“The 400th anniversary of Liepāja is more than a milestone – it’s a celebration of the spirit and soul of every true Liepāja resident,” shares Ilze Valce, the artistic director and conductor of the concert. “We’ve crafted this artistic programme to evoke joy and excitement, bringing together melodies from the musical treasure chests of the world, Europe, Kurzeme, and Liepāja. Interwoven with these timeless pieces are original works created here and now; something we can proudly pass on to future generations. I eagerly await the anniversary celebrations and sincerely hope that every resident of Liepāja will contribute to this radiant moment, ensuring our city shines as brightly in centuries to come as it does today.”
The performance will feature the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs of Liepāja Music, Art and Design High School, soloists Laura Bulava, Ieva Sidare and Mārtiņš Zvīgulis, flutist Reinis Lapa, and organists Līga Dejus, Līga Auguste-Meijere, and Ilze Tomsone, as well as ensembles from the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre and RTU Liepāja’s amateur art collectives. The concert will be led by artistic director and conductor Ilze Valce, with conductor Andris Veismanis. Musicologist Orests Silabriedis will provide narration, guiding the audience through this musical journey.
Marking this milestone anniversary, the concert will feature newly commissioned compositions by composers from different generations who share deep ties with Liepāja. Bridging the past with the present, thus highlighting and complementing these modern works will be selections from the Holy Trinity Cathedral’s historic Liepāja Cantorate music library, including excerpts from cantatas by Gottfried August Homilius, Johann Adam Hiller, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Gottlob Heinrich Traugott Perle. The program will open with musical excerpts from the works of Baroque master J. S. Bach, while a special atmosphere will be created by prayers “Dievs, svētī Latviju” (God Bless Latvia) by Blaumaņu Kārlis and “Mūsu Tēvs debesīs” (Our Father, Who Art in Heaven) by Lūcija Garūta.
The concert is organised by the Foundation “Liepāja 2027”. Tickets, starting from EUR 10, are available at the “Biļešu Paradīze” box offices and online at https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/en. Ticket prices may increase as the event date approaches. The event is supported by Liepāja City Municipality, Ministry of Culture, State Culture Capital Foundation, SIA LUX Express Latvia, Ltd.
The event duration is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Recommended age: 7+. The venue is accessible for those with reduced mobility; please select wheelchair-designated seating marked by an icon when purchasing tickets.
The concert is part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027″ under the Programme Line “New Eyes!” project “Return of the Towers”.
The Supervisory Board’s purpose is to oversee the project’s content, financial utilization, and achieved results, as well as to facilitate cooperation between municipalities, state institutions, and other stakeholders.
This competition was launched to inspire the creation of an innovative and artistically refined environmental object that integrates seamlessly into Liepaja’s urban landscape.
