Opening events of the Latvian Presidency in London

On Tuesday 20 January, the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will open in London with a concert by the Latvian Radio Choir and an exhibition by the Art Academy of Latvia (AAL).

At 20:00 in St John’s Smith Square concert hall, the Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava will perform the multimedia project “Cage and Time . The multimedia concert will feature compositions by the composers John Cage, Juris Ābols, Kristaps Pētersons and others, as well as fragments from musical experiments by the Latvian avant-garde group, Nebijušu sajūtu restaurēšanas darbnīca (NSRD; the Restoration Workshop of Unprecedented Feelings).

The Director of the Latvian Radio Choir, Egils Štāls, says: “This year, we will participate in several events organised by the Latvian Presidency. We are delighted that our first concert takes place in London and that we can present the “Cage and Time  project here. This is a large-scale performance that is prepared with love and gives us great satisfaction. 

Tickets are available at the Box Office and on the website of St John’s Smith Square.

Graduation. Publicity photo

Prior to the concert, an exhibition of works by graduates and professors of the AAL will open at 18:00 at the European Commission premises in London. The exhibits from the fields of visual and visual-plastic arts are characterised by the search for new means of expression. The works show a move away from traditional techniques and present contemporary interpretations of classical forms.

In describing the exhibition, AAL rector, Professor Aleksejs Naumovs, says: “We are satisfied with the outcome and pleased to present the Academy’s achievements in the very centre of London. The works display contemporary tendencies that would not lose their “creative freshness  and topicality at global arts fairs. The Graduation exhibition is our first event under the Latvian Presidency and will be followed by many others - with exhibitions in Strasbourg, Porto and Berlin. 

The exhibition will be open for visitors at the Europe House in London from 21 to 30 January.

The opening events are organised by the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Art Academy of Latvia and the Latvijas Koncerti company in collaboration with the Latvian Embassy in the United Kingdom and the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom.