29th Sacred Music Festival opens in Riga, featuring new work by Pēteris Vasks

The 29th Sacred Music Festival has opened in Riga, continuing an annual tradition of presenting sacred music performances by both Latvian and foreign composers.

This year's program includes several new compositions, among them a new work by composer Pēteris Vasks. The festival's opening concert was specifically dedicated to newly created pieces, highlighting a focus on contemporary sacred music.

Change in choir leadership

There has also been a change in the artistic leadership of the State Choir Latvija for this year's festival. Instead of regular artistic director Māris Sirmais, the choir will be led during the festival by three conductors — Marika Austruma, Valdis Tomsons, and Jānis Liepiņš.

Now in its 29th edition, the festival has become one of the longer-standing sacred music traditions in Latvia, offering audiences a broad program of works from different eras and styles each year.