On January 23, 2027, at 9 p.m., the openingconcert of Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027, entitled WindSymphony, will take place in the Great Hall of the Great Amber ConcertHall. The evening will feature the world premiere of Wind Symphony, acomposition by Ēriks Ešenvalds, specially commissioned for this occasion.
Ēriks Ešenvalds is one of the mostinternationally renowned Latvian composers – his choral music and other workshave been performed at prominent concert venues and festivals across the globe.Wind Symphony will be a story about Liepāja, its character, and thecreative courage of its people. The concert is directed by LAURA (Laura Groza),winner of the Grand Music Award and multiple Player's Night Awards.
Taking the stage will be the Liepāja SymphonyOrchestra with conductor and Grand Music Award laureate Guntis Kuzma, the RīgaBrass Orchestra with conductor Valdis Butāns, and soloist Annija KristiānaĀdamsone, who received the Grand Music Award as the Best New Artist of the Yearand a Player's Night Award for her role as Olympia in Jacques Offenbach's operaThe Tales of Hoffmann. In 2026, the singer also won the Audience ChoiceAward at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. The liveperformance of the extraordinary story will be complemented by a local jazztrio. The night will be hosted by actors and Player’s Night Award winnersMārtiņš Meiers and Agnese Jēkabsone-Ozoliņa.
The premiere of Ēriks Ešenvalds' new compositionwill be accompanied by a thematic video narrative created by brothers Laurisand Mārcis Ābele about a mythical being washed ashore – Nāra, or the Mermaid.Guided by a creative glow, she discovers the city, its people, and its distinctcharacter. Nāra's supernatural power to ignite creative (un)rest becomes animpulse for discovering new worlds and exploring the extraordinary. Those whoencounter her can see Liepāja through different eyes, and the path taken by heralong the surging sea on the Kurzeme coast shines like amber – both a coastalsymbol and a metaphor for creativity.
Brothers Lauris and Mārcis Ābele are known fortheir distinctive visual storytelling language in Latvian cinema and animation.The animated film Dog of God, which they co-directed, received the 2025Lielais Kristaps National Film Award for Best Direction of an Animated Film.
The concert's creative team also includesscenographer Sintija Jēkabsone, scriptwriter Mārtiņš Meiers, internationallyacclaimed costume designer and Fashion Fringe Award winner Fjodors Podgornijs,and lighting designer and multiple Player's Night Award winner Oskars Pauliņš.
Tickets for the Liepāja – European Capital ofCulture 2027 opening concert Wind Symphony are available at allBiļešu Paradīze box offices and online:https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/179615
The year of Liepāja as the European Capital ofCulture will officially begin on January 22, 2027, with events in Kuldīga andAizpute. On January 23, Liepāja will take center stage for the celebrations,featuring an ambitious opening program in urban spaces and various venues. Onthe opening day of Liepāja 2027 – January 23 – the morning will start with anexciting amber hunt at the Liepāja beach, followed by educational activities atthe Liepāja Museum and the international exhibition Baltic Amber Surprisesthe World, revealing the role of amber in culture, history, andcontemporary art. At the same time, city guests can take the guided audio walk Pathof (Un)rest, which will reveal Liepāja's character, historical layers, andfuture aspirations.
On January 24, adventure seekers can discoverthe paradoxes of Liepāja through exciting tourist routes in Karosta and otherneighborhoods that have inspired the Liepāja 2027 program events, to be enjoyedin the land of (un)rest throughout the year.
Explore the full program of Liepāja –European Capital of Culture 2027:https://www.liepaja2027.lv/programma-nemiers
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