Cultural Heritage

Latvia's cultural and artistic traditions are also centuries old. They have been cultivated nurtured and kept by the Latvian nation both in the present territory of the Republic of Latvia, and also by Latvian communities around the world which were primarily established in the aftermath of World War II, when tens of thousands of Latvians fled the invading armies and became displaced persons seeking refuge in countries in almost every continent. More than 1.4 million folk songs, or "dainas", almost always four-line couplets reflecting the ethics, morals and life styles of ancient Latvians, have been identified, thanks largely to the pioneering work of Krisjanis Barons (1835-1923) who is known as the father of dainas. Latvian literature as an independent entity appeared only in the 19th century. The Latvian novel was pioneered by the brothers Reinis and Matiss Kaudzitis with their masterpiece "Mernieku laiki" (Time of the Surveyors), which depicted country life in the late 19th century. Another important work in the early stages of Latvian literature was the late 19th century epic poem "Lacplesis" (Bear slayer) by the poet Andrejs Pumpurs. The most famous Latvian author - poet and playwright Rainis, championed Latvia's independence at the turn of the century. Music, song and dance have always played an important role in the life of the Latvian nation. Periodic mass song and dance festivals date back to 1873, the last being in 1993 with 30,000 participants. This tradition is also followed by Latvians in the diaspora, with Song Festivals held in the US every 3 years, every 4 years in Canada, and in Europe and Australia as well. Choral music is a high art in Latvia, with many choirs now perform in concert tours on stages around the globe. Latvia's National Opera and Ballet were world famous during the years of independence, with baritone Adolfs Kaktins and tenor Mariss Vetra achieving worlwide acclaim. Janis Zabers gained international recognition during the occupation, but after renewed independence, Latvia's opera stars are once again featured artists in many leading opera companies around the world - including Ingus Petersons in the Royal Swedish Opera and Inese Galante in Mannheim's Opera. Mariss Jansons, who was born in Latvia is the conductor of symphony orchestras in Oslo and St. Petersburg and has taken over artistic directorship of an opera company in the US as well. The most well known classical music composers include Jazeps Vitols, Emils Darzins, Janis Medins and Karlis Baumanis, but in the 1970's and 1980's the contemporary music of Raimonds Pauls and Imants Kalnins gained widespread recognition. Talivaldis Kenins is a composer living in Canada, who has also earned international acclaim. Latvian ballet stars of international renown include Zita Errsa, Lita Beiris, Maris Liepa, and Genadijs Gorbanovs.

Theatre, film and photography are also areas where Latvian artists have made an international mark. Ten professional theatres currently exist in Latvia, but the National Theatre was actually the site where Latvia's independence was proclaimed in 1918. Latvian photographers, including Janis Klavins, Viesturs Links and Peteris Jaunzems have won top awards in international photography competitions in the past few years. While the origins of Latvian cinematography date back to the 1920's, the first full length Latvian film was "Zvejnieka dels" (The Fisherman's Son) produced in 1940. Documentaries have had special success and the most famous documentary producers include the Juris Podnieks (well known for documentaries such as "The Soviets", and "Krustacels" (the Stations of the Cross)), Ivars Seleckis for "Skersiela" (Crossroads) and Herc Franks for "Augstaka tiesa" (The Supreme Court).

Yet independent producers are now coming to the fore, and in the past few years films like "Cilveka berns" (Child of Man) by Janis Streics and "Ziemassvetku jampadracis" (Christmas Hullabaloo) by Varis Brasla have won awards in Frankfurt, Moscow, Wuertzburg and Chicago. The film studio Dauka, which specializes in animated shorts and features produced "Kakisu dzirnavas" (The Cat's Mill) which won second prize in a US film festival in 1994, but took top honours in Finland and Lithuania. The areas of painting, architecture and sculpture have given rise to names of note in both past and present-day Latvia. The most influential Latvian painters of the turn of the century included Janis Rozentals and Vilhelms Purvitis. Among those who rose to prominence during and in spite of the period of Soviet "socialist realism" are Janis Pauluks, Maija Tabaka, Dzemma Skulme and Auseklis Bauskenieks. The works of many painters in the diaspora have also reached acclaim in the artistic circles of their countries of residence. The most important monument in Riga, the capital of Latvia, is considered to be the Freedom Monument, by Karlis Zale, who was also responsible for the Bralu kapi (Brethren's Cemetery) the memorial cemetery where Latvian freedom fighters and soldiers were laid to rest. Rigas old town is notable for its eclectic architectural styles - from medieval buildings, to Art Nouveau and neo-classicism of the 1930's. Today, Riga is one of the six leading showcases of Art Nouveau in Europe. Meanwhile, Gunars Bikerts who was born in Latvia, emigrated in the US in 1949, is an architect of international acclaim, having designed, among other famous buildings, the Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, for which he received a gold medal from the Architecture Institute, and the US Embassies in Finland and Venezuela. He has also designed the new National Library of Latvia building, the construction of which is scheduled to begin in the near future.