Latvian National Opera (LNO) is entering the 2005/2006 season with a new logo. ‘New logo of Opera is a boiling volcano, a volcano that erupts sound, light and movement. Opera is a volcano that erupts burning passion that creates new art islands. Opera like a volcano that creates new energy’, says the author of new logo artist Ilmārs Blumbers who created the symbol that will symbolize the Latvian National Opera in future.

After Declaration of Independence of Latvia in 1918, LNO the newly established LNO staged its first play Flying Dutchmen by Richard Wagner on January 23, 1919. This is considered to be the ‘birthday’ of the Latvian National Opera.

Each year LNO stages three to four operas and about three ballet performances. LNO performances have internationally acknowledged artistic quality. Guest artists, like opera singers, directors, choreographers, are often invited to play in the performances. Repertoire covers a wide range of styles, from baroque operas (Hendels Alcina and Acis and Galatea), classic opera and ballet masterpieces (Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Wagner, Tchaikovsky operas, Adam, Delibes, classic Russian ballets) to 20th century Latvian and international composers’ works (Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Noye’s Fludde, Jānis Lūsēns The Birds’ Opera, Ilona Breģe Living Water).

LNO opera and ballet ensembles have toured many EU countries, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel and Russia. LNO opera company has entered a number of European festivals – several times in Dalhalla Opera Festival (Sweden), Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland) and Wiesbaden Opera Festival (Germany) for the first time, in 2004.

LNO is the organizer of the annual Riga Opera Festival since 1998. For two weeks, the festival offers local and international audience new performances of the season that are delivered by the outstanding conductors and guest singers.

The Opera house was closed for reconstruction in 1991. After return to the renovated premises in 1995, LNO has been working to offer a tasteful balance between traditional and innovative ways to present the opera and ballet performances. LNO is flourishing largely due to far-fetching managerial style of Andrejs Žagars. Arturs Maskats is the Opera Art Director of LNO, LNO Ballet Art Director’s duties are bestowed upon Aivars Leimanis, and the Head Conductor’s position since 2003 is occupied by Andris Nelsons.

Latvian National Opera
3 Aspāzijas Blvd., Riga, LV 1050
Andrejs Žagars, Director
Ph. (LNO Ticket Sales).: +371 7073777
Fax: +371 7228930

E-mail: info@opera.lv