At the end of May, it`s second anniversary did celebrate the Embassy of Latgale GORS – the multifunctional concert hall located in Rēzekne, that in 2013 has been the first one to begin a successful implementation of the network of regional concert halls across Latvia.
„Although, only two years have passed, there is a feeling that we have experienced already a culturally enriched lifetime. We are delighted for the proof of the necessity of the regional concert hall in Latgale. We have created an outstanding concert venue not only in the level of Latvia, but courageously saying – in the level of Europe. Also, the good example of the Embassy of Latgale GORS has promoted the denomination “concert hall” to become almost a fashion peak and the name of every culture venue. However, still the most important for us are the characteristics of the Embassy of Latgale GORS – exceptionally high quality acoustics, technical multifunctionality, high professionalism, and the story told about Latgale. All this is appreciated by the visitors, Latvian and international musicians, as well as the professionals of the industry.” acknowledges the head of the Embassy of Latgale GORS, the member of the board of Austrumlatvijas koncertzāle Ltd. Diāna Zirniņa.
Doubts and Skepticism have Stayed Behind
The year of 2014 was the first fully functional year of the Embassy of Latgale GORS, presenting and allowing to reason about the results of it`s work, despite the doubts and skepticism that was existing before it`s grand opening. The expectations are fulfilled even better than planned. During the previous year, the Embassy of Latgale GORS has been attended by more than 150 thousand visitors, in the concert hall a place took 150 culture events of various genres (Latvian and foreign professional stage art, music, visual and new media art and other events; comparing with the year 2013 – 92 events) and 14 exhibitions. This has been a venue for 45 seminars, as well as the sightseeing place for almost 340 excursion groups from Latvia and abroad. Admittedly, the official statistics does not reflect couple hundreds of the film screenings and the visitors that have attended the concert hall with other interest than the culture events.
Taking a closer look on the financial figures, the proceeds of Austrumlatvijas koncertzāle, Ltd. in 2014 exceeds the indicators of the year 2013 more than twice, reaching 1382,5 thousands euro, but the expenses - 1322,7 thousands of euro. The profit in 2014 reached 59,8 thousands euro and has been used for coverage of the previous year loses, factually incurred during the building process of the concert hall.
Latgale in Latvia and the Look Beyond the Borders
The opening of the Embassy of Latgale GORS in the region was the first step for providing the high quality culture activities. In 2014, an important factor of the professional art availability in the region has become a collaborative contract with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. Also, very important is the project support from the State Culture Capital Foundation and other funds.
The Embassy of Latgale GORS has become not only an important and unique culture venue with an outstanding acoustic concert halls, but also a high quality destination for the culture lovers and professionals, a developer of the city and regional social environment change, a promoter of the city image, a highly popular sightseeing object.
During the attendance and it`s tendencies research, it becomes noticeable that the region of the visitors and service users is not only within the region of Latgale, but rather all Eastern Latvia. A usual route to the concert hall is found and driven as well as by the visitors from Jēkabpils, Madona, Gulbene, Rīga, Cēsis, Valmiera and other cities. During last year, the Embassy of Latgale GORS has become one of the most popular sightseeing objects in Latgale. It is important to mention the artistic aspect – it is attractive to the artists and musical collectives from Latvia and abroad. Symbolically speaking, Rēzekne has returned in the map of the culture events of Latvia, yet having regular performances, premieres of the leading professional collectives, as well as being the pace of new culture creations. Deputy State Secretary for Cultural Policy of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia Dace Vilsone indicates, “with the opening of the Embassy of Latgale GORS, noticeably has changed the culture life in Latvia – it is no more homogeneous and concentrated in Riga. Now, even musicians who mostly perform in Riga have developed the interest in the regions.”
Since the Embassy of Latgale GORS is a venue of the European level, already now among the visitors could be met the citizens of Estonia, Lithuania and Russia. However, in the perspective, as one of the goals is set an acquisition of the nearby border regions.
Existing Traditions and New Festivals
The Embassy of Latgale GORS is not only a stage for already made concert program performances, but also a place in Rēzekne and Latgale where the new cultural values are created locally. In 2014, the Embassy of Latgale GORS took over the organization of the Annual Latgalian Cultural Award “Boņuks”. This is the residence of the festival “Baroque Music Days in Rezekne” that in the last year has received a significant attention with the new staging – opera-pasticcio “A Home for Műtel”. In addition, the regular performances are presented by the local Wind Instrument Orchestra “Rēzekne”, Rezekne Big Band and Rezekne Chamber Orchestra. This year also, a place will take the Baroque Music Days in Rezekne – this time, with the leading theme of the Czech baroque.
In 2014, thanks to the perseverance of the world famous organist Iveta Apkalna, the collaboration between the Embassy of Latgale GORS and J. Ivanovs Rezekne Secondary Music School and support from the State Cultural Capital Foundation and JSC "Latvijas valsts mezi", the concert hall has obtained a new digital instrument – Johannus Ecclesia organ. Due to the instrument, in the year 2015 a new tradition will be established – I International Festival of Organ Music „ORGanismi” (transl. ORGanisms), with an organ as the central concert instrument. The festival program will be created in symbiosis with an orchestra, dance and performances for children. Artistic Director of the festival – Iveta Apkalna.
Acknowledgement of the Visitors and Professionals
The team of the Embassy of Latgale GORS is happy that the recognition of the work and the provided culture activities has been gained not only from the visitors, but also from the professionals of various areas. The building of the concert hall has received the “Best Building in Latvia” award at the Exposition of the Latvian Builders Association. Recently it has received the award as the best new-built construction of the year 2013, and also have been among the finalists of the Latvian Architecture Award. The brand of GORS, created by the brand nest “Matka” and agency „Asketic”, has received the Grand Prix of the Festival of Creative Excellence Adwards 2014. However, Rezekne City Council has awarded the concert hall for it`s input in the creating process of the city image and Latgale Planning Region has acknowledged Austrumlatvijas koncertzale, Ltd. as the “Merchant of the Year 2014” in Latgale region.
The events presented at the Embassy of Latgale GORS have received both the culture award of Latvian Television and Latvian Radio “Kilograms kultūras” (transl. Kilogram of Culture) and the nomination at the Annual Culture Award of newspaper “Diena”, and also have been nominated and have received the Latvian state award in music – the Great Music Award and other recognitions. The Embassy of Latgale GORS has received positive assessments of the experts and the society for the high quality acoustic of the Big Hall that way rising high the interest of the performing by the local and foreign musicians. The said is supported by the numerous recordings of the acoustic concerts made at the concert hall in the year 2014, including the P. Vasks string quartet (under the lead of Normunds Šnē) CD recording that has received a foreign recognition of the experts.
Celebrating the second anniversary of the Embassyof Latglale GORS, one of the author of the building project – architect of Vizuālās modelēšanas studija, Ltd. Uldis Balodis says: „The city has obtained a valuable center that unites the people and creates new opportunities. No matter what is designed, it acquires the value only when there are the people that understand the right way of using it. I am delighted for the main hope to come true – this is not only a building, not only the music. Here are the people who need that.”
More information:
The Embassy of Latgale GORS resounding concert was held on May 19, 2013, but the official Grand Opening a place took on May 29 and 30.
The Big Hall „Gors” – 996 seats, the Small Hall „Zīdaste” – 220 seats
