Liepāja will host the next Europa Cantat Festival in August 2027

The European Choral Association is delighted to officially announce the planning of the 22nd edition of the EUROPA CANTAT festival, a major event designated to singers, choirs, and all choral lovers across Europe and beyond. The festival will take place in Liepāja, Latvia, in August 2027 and will be organised in close cooperation with the Latvian Song Celebrations Society and Foundation Liepaja 2027.

Europa Cantat is an iconic Choral Festival in Europe with a history for more than 60 years. From 1961 to 2021, the European Choral Association organised the EUROPA CANTAT Festival every three years, each time in a different country. The festival brought together singers and choirs from across Europe and around the globe to share their passion for singing and discover one another’s cultures by attending ateliers and workshops, perform in final concerts, listen to invited choirs, eat, sleep and have fun together. The most recent edition in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2021 was held on a smaller scale due to the pandemic. After a pause caused by the rise of various global challenges, the European Choral Association is thrilled to announce the return of the festival in 2027, offering new opportunities for choirs and singers to reconnect and experience the joy of singing together once again.

Dermot O’Callaghan, newly-elected president of the European Choral Association for 2024-2027: ”The European Choral Association is delighted to bring the EUROPA CANTAT Festival back to life after a challenging period for choral music post-pandemic and as we look to the future of international gatherings. Hosting this event in Liepāja is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the resilience and creativity of our community in a city that so perfectly reflects the values of the festival. We are proud to work with our Latvian partners to create an event that will inspire singers and choirs from across Europe and beyond to reconnect through collective singing.”

Inta Šoriņa, Chairperson of the Board of Foundation Liepāja 2027: "It is with immense pride that we welcome the 2027 EUROPA CANTAT Festival to Liepāja. This prestigious international cultural event presents a golden opportunity to highlight Liepāja and the greater Latvian region as a beacon of Baltic music and creativity. For Latvia, a nation leading worldwide with its rich tradition of choral singing and a Song Festival honoured as part of the UNESCO World Heritage, hosting this event is a tremendous honour. We are dedicated to welcoming choirs from across the globe with the utmost respect and hospitality. Together with the residents and guests of Liepāja, we will create a celebration that will be remembered by all.”

Liepāja, the third largest city in Latvia and the tenth largest in the Baltic States, is home to approximately 70,000 residents who call it their workplace and place of study. Liepāja owns a rich cultural and artistic heritage, offering a diverse range of events throughout the year. From exhibitions by local artists to performances by world-renowned talents, from classical concerts to lively beach festivals, the city is alive with creativity. At the heart of this cultural scene is the architectural gem, the Great Amber Concert Hall, known for its exceptional acoustics that capture the finest nuances of sound, making it a haven for music lovers. The hall is also home to the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the oldest in the Baltics. Additionally, Liepāja proudly hosts the oldest professional theatre in the region, along with many other dynamic cultural venues that enrich its artistic landscape. Located on Latvia’s southwest coast near the Lithuanian border, the city can be easily reached via Riga and Palanga Airport, or even by boat.

Partners:

The Latvian Song Celebrations Society. The purpose of the activity of the "Dziesmusvētku biedrība" is to unite various groups of society in a united and coordinated action with the aim of preserving the pride of Latvian culture - the tradition of the Song and Dance Festival, strengthening the understanding of its value both in Latvia and abroad. It was founded in 1930 and gathers conductors and choirs from Latvia. More info (in Latvian): http://www.dziesmusvetkubiedriba.lv

Foundation Liepaja 2027. On January 2023, following the winning of the title “European Capital of Culture 2027” by the City of Liepāja, Liepāja City Council members adopted a decision to establish the foundation “Liepāja 2027 Foundation” to carry out the project “European Capital of Culture 2027”. Delivering the European Capital of Culture 2027 project’s rich programme over the period 2023-2028 will entail implementing cross-sectoral activities, contributing to the city’s socio-economic growth, attracting international publicity, boosting tourist flows, developing the creative industries sector, carrying out cooperation projects with the public, private and non-governmental sectors, and raising funds from various financial sources, including European Union funds and the private sector. More info: www.liepaja2027.lv/eng

The European Choral Association is a network of organisations, choirs and individuals in the field of collective singing in Europe. Through our membership, we represent more than 2,5 million singers, vocal leaders/conductors, creators/composers, educators/teachers and managers in over 40 European countries, and reach out to more than 37 million people across the whole of Europe. More info: www.europeanchoralassociation.org

Contact information: European Choral Associatio Communication & Marketing Manager Beatrice Bonfe (communication@europeanchoralassociation.org /+49 228 9125663), Latvian Song Celebrations Society Janis Ozols (dirigents@gmail.com), Foundation Liepaja 2027 Head of PR and Marketing Zita Lazdāne (zita.lazdane@liepaja2027.lv /+371 22 017 277)

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