Event dedicated to Lāčplēsis Day “A Quiet Evening on the Daugava Embankment” at the concert hall Ave Sol

On 11 November 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the concert hall Ave Sol will host the Lāčplēsis Day event “A Quiet Evening on the Daugava Embankment”.

On 11 November, on the embankment by Riga Castle, the people of Riga and the city's guests continue a beautiful and unifying tradition: placing lit candles along the castle wall to honor the heroes who fought for Latvia's freedom against Bermont's army. Meanwhile, in the nearby concert hall Ave Sol, the event “A Quiet Evening on the Daugava Embankment” takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in honor of Lāčplēsis Day.

The event program is designed as a musical evening journey from the mood of dusk and inner reflection to patriotic choral music and a powerful message about Latvia's freedom. In the first part, kokle player and singer Lauma Matule and guitarist Ivars Štubis will perform the concert program “Twilight”. The duo's sound is created in an ambient and folk style, offering a rare interplay in Latvia between the kokle and electric guitar in instrumental music.

In the second part of the event, which will begin at 8:00 p.m., the Emīls Dārziņš Mixed Choir will perform. The choir will sing music by outstanding Latvian composers: Uldis Stabulnieks' “Barons”, Raimonds Tiguls' “Song of Morning and Evening”, Emīls Dārziņš' “Broken Pines”, and other compositions. At the end of the evening, the Riga Chamber Choir Ave Sol, under the direction of conductor Andris Veismanis, together with soloists and instrumentalists, will perform Mārtiņš Brauns' song cycle “Daugava” and Lolita Ritmanis' music from the film Blizzard of Souls. Mārtiņš Brauns' song cycle was created to Rainis' poetry, centered on the image of the Daugava, the fate of the nation, and the longing for freedom.

“Something of his will always remain relevant. The pagan element in ‘Daugava’ is not religion. ‘Daugava’ is our roots, our challenge, that is, you will not teach us how to live, we have our own sun, thunder, and all of that in no way excludes faith in the Most High. One can think of it in many ways, but this text will remain relevant as long as there are Latvians.”

Lolita Ritmanis' original music for the historical feature film Blizzard of Souls tells the story of Latvia's struggle for independence and the destinies of people during one of the most difficult periods in Latvian history. The film's soundtrack, which was also included in the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Oscar contenders list, will be performed by choir and chamber ensemble: organ, piano, guitar, and kokles.

The event will be hosted by Egils Melbārdis, actor of the Latvian National Theatre.

Event program:

• •7:00 p.m. Concert program “Twilight”. Lauma Matule (kokle), Ivars Štubis (guitar)
• •8:00 p.m. Emīls Dārziņš Mixed Choir, artistic director Rihards Lapiņš, conductor Jēkabs Krists Kalniņš
• •9:00 p.m. Riga Chamber Choir Ave Sol, artistic director Andris Veismanis, Ilze Reine (organ), Marta Pauliņa Paula (kokle), Agnese Egliņa (piano), Toms Timofejevs (bass guitar), Kārlis Matīss Zitmanis (guitar)

Admission is free.

More about the state holidays month events in Riga can be found on the website kultura.riga.lv , as well as by following information on the Riga City Council's social media pages “Rīga” and “Rīgā notiek”.