Vanemuine and Latvian National Opera swap stages

Vanemuine Theatre and the Latvian National Opera have exchanged venues for guest performances, ERR reported. Vanemuine is currently performing in Latvia, while the Latvian National Opera appeared in Tartu earlier this week.

The full house at the Latvian National Opera in Riga saw Vanemuine present the music, drama and dance production Prayer. A tribute to Arvo Pärt. The company also tested how Pärt’s music sounded on the Latvian opera’s larger stage than the one in Tartu.

The dancers had just arrived from Estonia, while the choir and orchestra were preparing to perform together. Vanemuine is appearing in Riga in three genres and has also performed at the Art Theatre.

Vanemuine director Aivar Mäe said the company had brought 230 people to Latvia. Moving such a large group between countries was logistically and financially demanding, he said, but the theatres had agreed to exchange venues every two or three years.

Estonians frequently travel to the Latvian National Opera, and visiting Riga has become a popular way to spend a weekend. Direct connections between Tartu and Riga are also bringing more Latvians to Tartu.

Latvian National Opera board member Astra Irmeja-Sefere said theatres needed additional financial support for guest performances. She said colleagues in Croatia and other countries had separate budgets to help organise such events.

The Arvo Pärt programme brought together many Estonian and Latvian friends and marked the final Latvian visit of Estonian President Alar Karis’s term. Karis said there were many opportunities to visit and experience Latvian culture, and expressed hope that Latvians would attend Vanemuine’s performances in Riga.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said Arvo Pärt was well known in Latvia, which had celebrated his 90th birthday. He added that Latvian composers such as Pēteris Vasks were popular in Estonia.