Cesis Hosts Women’s and Men’s Choir Festival with 2000 Singers for 2028 Prep

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The Strategic Path to the 2028 General Festival

This gathering is not merely a seasonal concert but a calculated step in the long-term preparation for Latvia’s most prestigious cultural event. As Latvijas Radio 1 reports, these specialized festivals for women’s and men’s choirs occur every five years, acting as a primary rehearsal and coordination phase for the General Latvian Song and Dance Festival scheduled for 2028. The scale of the event is immense. A total of 77 women’s choirs and 22 men’s choirs—representing every such choir currently operating in Latvia—will converge on the Cēsis Castle Park stage. This total mobilization of the country’s choral infrastructure underscores the festival’s role as a benchmark for artistic quality and organizational readiness.

Blending Tradition with Electroacoustic Innovation

The musical programming seeks to bridge the gap between ancestral heritage and the avant-garde. While the program leans on the classics of Latvian choral music, it integrates works by contemporary composers to keep the tradition evolving. According to Radio1.lv, the highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of a musical cycle by Jēkabs Jančevskis, which utilizes Latvian folk song lyrics. The artistic ambition is driven by a creative team consisting of artistic director Jurģis Cābulis, director Anna Klišāne, musical director Jēkabs Jančevskis, and scriptwriter Linda Rudene. Cābulis views the event as a modernization of the choral experience, incorporating elements that deviate from traditional accompaniment. This concert will be a new look at music that we all know very well and want to hear in such concerts. Jēkabs Jančevskis’ instrumental arrangements, electroacoustic solutions, orchestra, group and above all a great joint choir. All of this in the meaningful vision of the new and very talented director Anna Klišāne. I am glad to be the artistic director of this concert and to be convinced again of such talented people by my side! Jurģis Cābulis, Artistic Director By introducing electroacoustic solutions and a dedicated group alongside the Vidzemes Chamber Orchestra, the festival signals a shift toward a more diverse sonic palette, ensuring that the choral tradition remains relevant to modern audiences.

Regional Representation and the Valmiera Contribution

The festival’s national reach is exemplified by the participation of regional powerhouses. Details provided by the Valmiera municipality highlight three specific ensembles representing the region:

• Lira: Women’s choir from the Dikļi Culture Center, conducted by Larisa Stivriņa.
• Jumara: Women’s choir from the Valmiera Culture Center, conducted by Inga Zirne.
• Imanta: Men’s choir from the Valmiera Culture Center, conducted by Marika Rolmane.

The inclusion of these diverse groups reflects the decentralized nature of Latvian choral culture, where local culture centers serve as the bedrock for the national movement.

Orchestrating the Event: From Conductors to the Green Ball

The logistical complexity of managing nearly 100 choirs requires a massive conducting staff. The podium will be shared by a rotating roster of 17 conductors, including Aira Birziņa, Jurģis Cābulis, Raimonds Gulbis, Tālivaldis Gulbis, Ainārs Kiserovskis, Uldis Kokars, Ingus Leilands, Māra Marnauza, Jānis Mežinskis, Jēkabs Ozoliņš, Arvīds Platpers, Rudīte Tālberga, Jevgeņijs Ustinskovs, Ilze Valce, Romāns Vanags, Andris Veismanis, and Maruta Veļičko. The performance is further bolstered by soloists Ieva Sutugova, Jolanta Strikaite, and Atis Zviedris, with the entire event hosted by Valmiera Theatre actors Māra Mennika and Artis Jančevskis. The event’s structure extends beyond the formal concert. Organized by the Latvian National Culture Center in collaboration with the Cēsis municipality, the festivities conclude with a traditional “green ball” (zaļumballe) starting at 21:00 in Rožu laukums, featuring the “Cēsis” brass band. This transition from a structured, high-art concert to a communal folk celebration mirrors the dual nature of the Latvian song tradition: it is simultaneously a disciplined artistic pursuit and a grassroots social bond. For the participants and the community, the event serves as both a professional litmus test for 2028 and a celebration of regional identity.