The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) informs listeners about a soloist change in the 13 February concert “LNSO, Olari Elts and Kristine Blaumane. Vasks’ Cello Concerto and Sibelius’ Fifth,” which will take place at the Riga Congress Hall.

Due to health complications experienced by LNSO’s artist-in-residence, cellist Kristine Blaumane, a chamber music concert was cancelled in December 2025. Fortunately, her recovery is progressing well, but too great a physical strain could be harmful to it, so we have agreed that in the 13 February concert, the role of soloist in the performance of Peteris Vasks’ First Cello Concerto under Olari Elts will be taken by another fellow musician, cellist Kristaps Bergs.

We wish Kristine a speedy recovery and look forward to the concert on 30 April!

Information for concert attendees: if you will not be attending the concert due to the soloist change, you can return your purchased ticket until the start of the concert:

In person at the Bilesu Paradize box office at Krisjana Valdemara iela 5 (at the Riga Congress Hall), or by sending your ticket to [email protected], stating that you wish to return it due to the soloist change.

Thank you for your understanding! See you at this and other LNSO concerts!

About the programme: after a long break, the orchestra’s former artistic director and chief conductor (2001-2006) Olari Elts will once again join the LNSO. With Kristaps Bergs as soloist, Peteris Vasks’ First Cello Concerto will be performed, in which the composer reflects, across five movements, the individual’s resistance to brutal power. Jean Sibelius’ most famous work – his Fifth Symphony – was created amid the crossfire of 20th-century musical change, and these explorations are also reflected in the outstanding Finnish composer’s musical language, which nevertheless remains consistently splendid and rich. The programme also includes tributes to Sibelius by Estonian composer Tuur and Scottish composer Musgrave.

Tickets for the concerts are available at Bilesu Paradize outlets and at www.bilesuparadize.lv.