Launch concerts in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
The Festival will include choral concerts and if you are preparing for one such concert, what could be better than learning from the talented Ints Teterovskis, one of the Principal Conductors for the Latvian Song Celebrations, which take place every five years. Well the answer to that is, the opportunity to learn from the conductor and then to perform with his choir, one of Latvias leading youth choirs, BALSIS. Australian Latvian choristers in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide will have exactly that opportunity, as they prepare to launch the cultural activities which will take place during 2020 and which culminate in the events of the Festival week in December..
Ints Teterovskis and BALSIS are travelling to Australia at the invitation of the Festival Committee and their imminent arrival was discussed with enthusiasm by the audience members attending the 36th Latvian Youth Festival in Melbourne in December 2019. This should ensure that both the choristers and audience members are in for a treat this February.
BALSIS was formed 32 years ago. They have toured to diverse places in Europe, America, Australia and China. In 2018 the choir took out first place amongst the choirs battling it out in the competition, which is a part of the Song Celebration activities. The choir is definitely hard working they have released 18 CDs to date!
The launch concerts will be in two parts. In the first half BALSIS will perform their own program, which will be a fitting tribute to the Festival. In the second half they will be joined by choristers from local Latvian choirs to perform songs that have had a place in the Latvian Song Celebrations or Australian Latvian Arts Festivals over the years.
The concerts will take place in: Sydney, February 2 at 2.00pm, Sydney Latvian House; Melbourne, February, 8 at 3.00pm, Melbourne Latvian House; Adelaide, February, 16 at 2.00pm, Adelaide Latvian Hall.
See you at the concerts!
Ilona and Klāra Bruveris,
Artistic Directors,
58th Latvian Arts Festival in Australia
