Liepāja Symphony Orchestra to Premiere Rihards Dubra’s Third Symphony on His 60th Anniversary

On November 30 at 18:00, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra will premiere composer Rihards Dubra’s Third Symphony at the concert hall Great Amber, marking his 60th birthday. The program’s special guest, pianist Vestards Šimkus, will enhance the evening with music by Italian orchestral color master Ottorino Respighi.

Rihards Dubra is an internationally acclaimed Latvian composer best known for his sacred choral music. His works often reflect a deep interest in early music, particularly Gregorian chant. Dubra cites composers such as Giya Kancheli, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener—renowned for their focus on sacred themes—as his artistic kindred spirits.

In his emotionally intense new work, Dubra delves into the pressing issues of our time: the destructive nature of evil and humanity's struggle against it. The symphony serves as a medium for the composer to express profound reflections on the role of individuals in today’s world, incorporating experimental musical elements.

“The Third Symphony is filled with many unpleasant emotions that, unfortunately, surround us today,” says Dubra. “I cannot remain indifferent, so my outrage at the ongoing evil, the indifference of many of the world’s ‘powerful,’ and the prioritization of money over human life is captured in this music. I chose somewhat absurd titles for the outer movements to underscore the destructive nature of evil. The music is aggressive, at times grotesque, ironic, even mocking. The second movement mourns the suffering caused by evil, while the final movement, titled Libera me (‘Deliver me’), concludes with a plea for help—a perhaps naïve reflection of the overwhelming powerlessness we sometimes feel. This symphony is a heavy work that demanded immense emotional energy.”

In an earlier interview with Latvian Radio 3, Dubra expressed his wish to compose a piece capable of stopping war. “But—since that is impossible—I try to at least inspire hope with my music,” he said.

The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra has frequently premiered Dubra’s works, including the Third Liepāja Concerto, the Second Symphony, and the double concerto Concert pour Deux Dames. Notably, the orchestra commissioned Dubra’s opera Suitu Saga in 2019, followed by the recording of his Second Symphony: Mystery of His Birth under conductor Atvars Lakstīgala in 2020.

The November 30 concert will also feature Ottorino Respighi’s Piano Concerto in the Mixolydian Mode, performed with audience-favorite pianist Vestards Šimkus, and Olivier Messiaen’s youthful masterpiece The Forgotten Offerings, written when the French composer was just 22 years old.

Tickets for Liepāja Symphony Orchestra concerts are available via Biļešu Paradīze: https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/organizer/50 .

The concerts are supported by the Latvian Ministry of Culture, the State Cultural Capital Fund, and the City of Liepāja.

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