The Riga Latvian Societys Mixed Choir
Artistic leader and leading conductor Ārijs Šķepasts
The Riga Latvian Societys Mixed Choir was restored on October 14, 1989. The beginnings of the RLS choir come from the 19th century. The choir was founded in 1869. Starting with the II General Song Festival (1880) it worked successfully until 1940 when the Soviet regime closed the Riga Latvia Society. The restored choir gave its first concert on January 14, 1990, under the leadership of Ārijs Šķepasts.
During these 18 years the choir has worked actively: participated in Choir Wars and in all General Song Festivals in Latvia, acquired the repertoire of all Baltic and Nordic countries song festivals, as well as participated in them all in Latvia, Sweden, Norway and Lithuania. In two years time the choir has had concerts in many Latvian culture centres, where performed the song cycle of Elga Īgenberga I want to dream tonight, directed by Oļģerts Šalkonis. The performance was stated for several times in the Riga Latvian Societys House, as well as on the National Theatres stage.
The mixed choir is among those choirs that always sing with pleasure in different States and annual events in Riga. The choir enriches the concert programmes of different events at the RLS, in all Latvia and abroad. The choirs repertoire is varied: sacred music, compositions of different Latvian and abroad composers, folk songs and conductors Ārijs Šķepasts arrangements.
Contacts: Ārijs Šķepasts phone + 371 29137361, e-mail: arijsskepasts@gmail.com
