Holiday live broadcasts, concerts and film premieres – what to watch while celebrating May 1 and 4

Photo: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko

“Latvijas Televīzija” (LTV), celebrating the 20th anniversary of Latvia’s entry into the European Union (EU) and the Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia, will be showing several festive live broadcasts, concert recordings and film premieres – among them the historical drama “My Freedom” (2023; director Ilze Kunga-Melgaile) and the animated film “Law of the Heart” (2023; director Roze Stiebra).

On May 1 at 4:00 p.m., the festive concert “You are at home” will be broadcast live. You are ME. Latvia – 20 years in the EU”. The concert will feature the music of Raimonds Tigula (the artist himself playing the hangu and the piano), the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol”, organist Iveta Apkalnas, guitarist Jānis Bērziņas, soloists Mārtiņš Klišanas, Aleksandra Špitsberga, Gustav Švēdenberg and conductors Andras Veismanis, Jurģ Cābulis and Performed by Jānis Stafeckas. Actors Inga Misāne-Grasberga and Gundars Grasbergas, as well as LTV journalists Ilze Nagla and Jānis Geste will be the leaders of the event, while the video stained glass windows of artist Anitra Bēržina will reveal visually colorful stories during the concert, informs LTV.

6:25 p.m. – documentary film “Astra” (2023; director Liene Laviņa, screenplay authors – Gundars Rēders and Raits Valters, composer – Jānis Šipkēvics (Shipsea)) – a biographical story about the prominent member of the Latvian national resistance movement, Gunāras Astra – a man who could to think, speak and act according to the voice of one’s heart and vision of the world.

His phrase, uttered in the last words of the trial of the Latvian SSR – “I believe that this time will fade away like an evil nightmare” – became a guiding motive and a source of strength for the fighters of the Awakening period. What to do if your thoughts and beliefs contradict the reality of the age? Is a person able to exist without breaking? What sacrifices does it require from yourself, family and friends?

20.30 – documentary film “Dream of the country”. Satversme” (2022; director Dace Kokle, author of the idea Judīte Čunka). The Satversme is one of the shortest constitutions of countries in the world and also one of the oldest in Europe. During the Soviet years, the Constitution was a guiding star for the national resistance movement to fight against the occupation of the country, also during the Awakening, when Latvia’s independence was restored. In the autumn of 2022, it was one hundred years since the Basic Law of Latvia was adopted and entered into force, defining the state apparatus and the relationship of individuals with the state. The film reveals how the deputies chose the most appropriate version of the constitution at that time, why it was called the Constitution, who drafted the Constitution, and what issues caused the biggest disputes.

In the evening at 9:20 p.m., the concert recording of the 30th anniversary of the Riga Cathedral Choir School will be premiered (director Kārlis Krūmiņš, artistic director Jurgis Cābulis, scenographer Didzis Jaunzems). Especially for this concert, school graduate and pedagogue, composer Jēkabs Jančevskis created song arrangements, through which the story of the school from its founding in 1994 until today, when the school family has gathered together like a mighty tree of songs, will wind through the concert performance. The collective choir of 400 singers, made up of five school choirs and a special alumni choir, will be the refrain from the 2023 Song Festival and the beginning of the real celebration. Alongside the graduates, among whom are the singers Daumants Kalniņš, Jolanta Strikaite-Lapiņa, Katrīna Paula Felsberga, conductors Aivis Greters, Kaspars Ādamsons, Krista Audere and others, the current students will also perform at the concert, including the youngest ones, whose stories in the school and in the world of music are still just beginning.

On the day of restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia, May 4, at 9:00 a.m., viewers will be able to watch a live broadcast of the service from the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rēzekne. Then at 10.55 a.m. – live broadcast from the regional military parade in Rēzekne.

Traditionally, on May 4, the National Armed Forces hold a military parade in one of the historical districts of Latvia. Last year it took place in Vidzeme, Alūksne, but this year Latgale has the honor of hosting this particularly important and historic event of Latvia’s national holiday, when after 12 years in Rēzekne, the grand military parade of the National Armed Forces and institutions subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior returns. It will take place at the Latgale Liberation Monument “United Latvijai”. Parade commander: Commander of the 3rd Latgale Brigade of the National Guard, Colonel Gunārs Vizulis; commentators: Major Ieva Jordane-Liflande and LTV journalist Įrts Zvirbulis.

At 12:00 p.m. – a live broadcast from the ceremonial session of the Saeima, in which the Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa will deliver an address, and at 3:00 p.m. – a live broadcast of the ceremony of presenting the highest state awards, where the highest state awards of Latvia – the Order of Three Stars, the Order of the Viestur and the Cross of Merit – will be presented in the Riga Palace. Representatives of various fields from all over Latvia will receive the highest national recognition – people whose professional and social work and civic contribution serve Latvia honorably and are particularly important.

At 6:15 p.m., the concert recording “Imanta Ziedoņa and Raimonda Paula’s Song Festival” will be premiered. In honor of the 90th anniversary of Imantas Ziedonis, on May 3, 2023, the premiere of the program “Ziedonis – 90 / Raimonds Pauls & Daumants Kalniņš” was held at the Music House “Daile”. Daumants Kalniņš performs the poetry of Imantas Ziedoņas in Maestro music, with Maestro Raimonds Pauls at the piano. The concert program features musicians Raimonds Macats (keyboard instruments), Oskars Sproģis (bass guitar), Jānis Kalniņš (guitar), Artis Orubs (percussion instruments) and the choir “Sola” led by conductor Kaspars Ādamsons. The program features the most beautiful songs by Raimond Paulus with lyrics by Imantas Ziedoņš: “Svētvakars”, “Latviešu jūrniekiem”, “Girl with callus flowers”, “Nene’s stars in the room”, “Death of a fox”, “Song for joy” and many others.

At the end of the evening at 21.10 Latvian Television will premiere the historical drama “My freedom” (2023; director Ilze Kunga-Melgaile). The film is based on historical events, telling about the end of the 80s of the last century in Latvia, when the winds of change can be felt in the air.

The prototype of the main character is one of the brightest stars of the Renaissance – journalist and politician Ita Kozakeviča, in the film Alicia. Alicia, a free-spirited, socially active and charismatic thirty-year-old Polish woman, has just happily married Ilgvara, a conservative mathematics professor twenty years her senior. Ignoring her husband’s concerns, Alicia, encouraged by her close friends and colleagues, actively engages in the activities of the Popular Front and runs for the position of a member of the Supreme Council. However, achievements also bring complications – Alicia receives an anonymous letter and is faced with a tough choice of whom to trust. Cast: actors Ārika Eglija-Grāvele, Darius Meškauskas, Gints Grāvelis, Egons Dombrovskis, Ilze Ķuzule-Skrastiņa, etc. For the role of Alicia, actress Ārika Eglija-Grāvele received the “Lielā Kristapa 2023” award in the nomination “Best Actress”, Darius Meškauskas received the award in the nomination “Best an actor in a supporting role”.

To the delight of the youngest television viewers, on May 6 at 18.50 the animated film “Law of the Heart” (2023; director Roze Stiebra) will premiere on Latvian Television, which received the “Lielā Kristapa 2023” award in three nominations – “Best Animation Film”, “Best Animation Director ”, “Best Animation Artist”. The animation tells about a distant kingdom where a King and a Princess live. Life there is calm and predictable, the subjects are preparing for the wedding of the royal daughter, but one night the Princess meets a Stranger in the palace garden, who presents her with an unusual gift – from that moment on, everything turns upside down. In the wonderful tale of courage and love, the Princess runs away from home, her fiancé the Prince and her friend the Cat await challenging adventures, the governess Gaigala tries to bring the troubled King to his senses, and everyone must beware of the power-hungry Wolves. The creative team of the film consists of composer Valts Pūce, screenwriters Matīss Gritzmanis and Roze Stiebra, artist Aleksejs Naumovs, sound director Matīss Krišjānis, producers Roberts Vinovskis and Dominiks Jarmaković. The roles were voiced by actors: Telma Auziņa, Jānis Āriks Grūtups, Ritvars Logins, Gerds Lapoška, ​​Marta Lovisa Jančevska, Toms Harjo and others.

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