Venues

The Latvian National Opera

Perhaps more than any other building, the Latvian National Opera, anchored in the centre of Riga, has reflected the city’s history for over 150 years. It was unveiled in 1863, and was originally constructed as the Riga City Theater building according to the design of architect Ludwig Bohnstedt (St Petersburg).

The Latvian National Opera has also served as a launching pad for many of the country’s most successful musical icons like Aleksandrs Antoņenko, Elīna Garanča, Marina Rebeka and Andris Nelsons.

As the Riga Jurmala Music Festival continues to bring the world’s greatest symphony orchestras to the stage of the Latvian National Opera, the building continues to fulfil its role in reflecting the fortunes of the city of Riga. Today, it affirms its duty as a hub for music at the highest level, and it mirrors the blessings and prosperity of a free Latvia and its culture.

Address: Aspazijas bulvāris 3, Riga

Dzintari Concert Hall

Dzintari Concert Hall is a unique concert stage on the shores of the Baltic Sea which hosts concerts and events of varying genres every summer. The beginnings of the resort town’s active concert life are considered to have been in the many open-air stages built in Jūrmala at the end of the 18th century.

In 1936, an indoor concert hall (now the Small Hall) was built in Dzintari, and in 1962 a concert hall seating 2,000 was unveiled. The open concert hall is now seen as the epicentre of the Baltic summer concert season. The Small Hall was renovated in 2015, carefully preserving the hall’s excellent acoustic, its Classical and National Romantic elements, wooden interior details and the audience seating surrounded by columns. More than 500 people can attend events in the Small Hall.

The Great Guild

The Great Guild is one of the oldest public buildings in the Baltics, and its historic section dates back to the first half of the 14th century. For hundreds of years, the Great Guild has always been used for cultural, public and social events.

The Great Guild building was unveiled in 1857 and boasts Eclecticism-style English Gothic features and a stunning interior. Following a fire in 1963, the building was restored in 1965 with the addition of a new lobby and with the renovation of the interior to be used as a concert hall. It is currently the home of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and a constant meeting place for classical music concert audiences.