Raimonds Pauls Celebrated with Spring Festival Windstream Concert Series

The Latvian orchestra Riga is set to honor composer Raimonds Pauls with a series of concerts during the 14th annual Spring Festival Windstream, running from March 20 to May 27, 2026. The festival, which began in 2010, will feature performances dedicated to Pauls’s work, alongside a diverse program of classical and contemporary music.

Opening Concert: A Tribute to Raimonds Pauls

The festival will launch on March 20 with a concert at the VEF Palace of Culture dedicated to the music of Raimonds Pauls. The performance will feature orchestral arrangements of Pauls’s compositions, performed by the orchestra Riga and vocalists Ilona Bagele, Paula Saija, and Raimonds Celms. Raimonds Pauls, born January 12, 1936, is a renowned Latvian composer and pianist well-known throughout the Baltic countries and Eastern Europe.

Festival Highlights

Throughout the festival, audiences can expect a varied program:

• March 25: A concert at the Riga Lutheran Church in Torniakaln, featuring works selected for their emotional depth and spiritual resonance. The concert will be conducted by Māris Kuģis.
• April 3: A Good Friday concert at Riga St. John’s Church, premiering a new composition by Vilnius Šmīdberg for orchestra and percussion, performed by Guntars Freibergs.
• April 6: A family-friendly “Happy Easter” concert at the Palace of Culture Northern Lights, featuring singer Daumants Kalniņš and interactive musical games.
• May 27: The festival will culminate with a concert at the VEF Palace of Culture, showcasing the music of Spanish composer Oscar Navarro, featuring violinist Pilar Rubio. Navarro himself will conduct the orchestra.

Windstream Festival: A Unique Latvian Event

The Windstream festival is unique in Latvia for its focus on the diverse genres and styles within symphonic wind orchestra music. The orchestra Riga aims to present itself as a modern concert orchestra through collaborations with both Latvian and international soloists and conductors. The orchestra Riga was nominated for the Great Music Award for its performance throughout the year.

More information about the festival can be found at orkestris.riga.lv.