Director Dita Lūriņa-Egliena has broken her silence regarding the intense public dispute that erupted over the planned “Manai dzimtenei” (To My Homeland) concert featuring the music of composer Raimonds Pauls at Mežaparks Stage in early July. In an interview with the magazine Eve, Lūriņa-Egliena addressed the chaotic backlash, the cancellation controversy, and her current relationship with the composer.
The Mežaparks Stage Clash and Public Backlash
The concert, conceived as a celebration of Raimonds Pauls’ music with performances by large choirs, unexpectedly collapsed into public acrimony after the composer stated he did not want these holidays to take place. Reflecting on the turmoil, Lūriņa-Egliena described a confusing mixture of emotions. She noted that while she initially accepted the invitation from concert organizer Jānis Ķirsis because the idea felt wonderful, the subsequent fallout involved participants dropping out and public demonstrations that she called absurd.
The “Sing Together” Movement and Societal Fallout
Despite the resistance, participating choirs expressed a strong desire to sing, fueling a broader grassroots movement under the banner “Dziedam kopā” (Let’s Sing Together). Lūriņa-Egliena stated that once the momentum grew, halting the celebration entirely was no longer a viable option. She characterized the entire ordeal as a revealing moment for society, noting that the controversy exposed hidden motives and resulted in painful losses for the Latvian public.
Separating Artistic Vision from Administrative Litigation
While legal proceedings between the concert organizers and involved parties remain ongoing, Lūriņa-Egliena confirmed that she is not a party to the lawsuits. She explained that her role was strictly artistic, keeping her clear of the financial, administrative, and marketing aspects of the production.
“I was neither at the money, nor at the numbers, nor at the marketing—nowhere,” Lūriņa-Egliena told Eve. She added that being in Estonia during the height of the public dispute provided a healthy physical and emotional distance from the worst of the media storm.
A Fractured Bond with Raimonds Pauls
The situation proved particularly painful for the director due to her long-standing professional association with Pauls, having frequently performed his songs. Lūriņa-Egliena confirmed that she has not spoken with Raimonds Pauls since the controversy unfolded.
Expressing deep regret over how Pauls was made to feel, she suggested that the composer was influenced by misleading information provided by people around him pursuing their own interests. Although she loves and respects Pauls, she acknowledged that communicating with him remains difficult and chose not to reopen the discussion during the tense period. She recalled an instance when she intended to speak with him after a performance of Silmacchi at the theatre, but he had already departed.
Looking Toward Future Understanding
Despite the unresolved tension, Lūriņa-Egliena remains confident that, absent the heightened emotions surrounding the event, Pauls would ultimately understand her artistic intentions and why she chose to stand by the project.