Press information, 10 September 2025. Already this weekend, on 13 and 14 September, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) will open its 100th season with an impressive collaborative project together with the Latvian National Opera and the State Choir “Latvija” – after many years’ absence, Gustav Mahler’s grandiose Eighth, or “Symphony of a Thousand,” will be performed in Latvia. On the podium will be Tarmo Peltokoski, who after this concert will take on a new status with the orchestra – conductor laureate. Shortly before the season opening, the orchestra also announced all the concerts for the second half of its 100th season. In addition, for the second time, the LNSO Foundation has presented its Excellence Award to the orchestra’s best musician – this year it went to clarinettist Martins Circenis. Harpist Ieva Sablovska received a special award for her heartfelt contribution in proposing and implementing the initiative “Harp Sound Therapy for Premature Babies.” Also in its anniversary season, the orchestra has gained a patron – over the next three years, the orchestra’s activities will be supported by AS “Signet Banka.”
LNSO’s centenary season promises a rich musical journey – from complex scores and world-famous soloists to new discoveries that will open new doors into the world of symphonic music for audiences. Alongside cornerstones of classical music, the concerts will also feature works by contemporary composers. Special attention will be given to works by Latvian composers, highlighting the diversity and creative spirit of our culture. This season, the Riga Congress Centre has become a fully-fledged home for LNSO concerts. The orchestra’s artist-in-residence for its anniversary season is cellist Kristine Blaumane, and its composer-in-residence is Peteris Vasks.
“The performance of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony closes a very important chapter in the life of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra – with these concerts, Tarmo Peltokoski bids farewell to the position of the orchestra’s chief conductor and artistic director, though he is not saying goodbye to us. Going forward, Tarmo will be LNSO’s conductor laureate. We are extremely pleased about the start of a new partnership – beginning this season, Signet Banka becomes LNSO’s patron for three years. We are united by a shared understanding of values and of our goals, so I have no doubt this partnership will be mutually significant,” says director Indra Lukina of LNSO’s latest developments.
The LNSO has also announced the concerts for the second half of the season. As always around the turn of the year, the LNSO offers its listeners special New Year’s Concerts. This time they will take place on 29 December at the “Cesis” Concert Hall, and on 30 December, as well as on 2 and 3 January, at the Riga Congress Centre. The programme will honour the diversity of American music – from Bonds, Gershwin and Bernstein to works by contemporary authors that highlight African American cultural heritage. At the New Year’s Concerts, alongside the LNSO, American opera diva Julia Bullock will perform, together with the Riga Cathedral Choir School’s Gospel Choir, conducted by Christian Reif.
A number of other brilliant symphonic music concerts will be performed at the Riga Congress Centre. In late January – on 22 and 23 January – the LNSO invites audiences to maestro Raimonds Pauls’ anniversary concerts. Under the artistic direction of Maris Sirmais, in collaboration with the State Choir “Latvija” and the Latvian Radio Big Band, singers Aija Vitolina and Daumants Kalnins, and pianist Matiss Zilinskis, the concerts will feature the maestro’s music in new arrangements by British composer Callum Au and French composer Pierre Bertrand.
On 13 February, audiences will have the chance to experience a reunion with LNSO’s former artistic director (2001-2006), Olari Elts, at the concert “LNSO, Olari Elts and Kristine Blaumane. Vasks’ Cello Concerto and Sibelius’ Fifth.” On 27 February at the Riga Congress Centre, Maurice Ravel’s “Valses nobles et sentimentales,” Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” and George Gershwin’s famous “Rhapsody in Blue” will be performed under conductor and pianist James Sherlock, at the concert “LNSO, James Sherlock and ‘Rhapsody in Blue.'” On 20 March, young Finnish conductor Kristian Sallinen will take the LNSO podium for the second time, in a performance of Magnus Lindberg’s Clarinet Concerto (soloist – the orchestra’s principal clarinet, Martins Circenis) and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
On 10 April, outstanding violinist Vineta Sareika will take the stage at the Riga Congress Centre, leading the performance and appearing as soloist together with the LNSO in a concert programme dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven. On 30 April, cellist Kristine Blaumane, in her closing concert as artist-in-residence, together with violist Santa Vizine and conductor Aivis Greters, will offer a glimpse into the unusual adventures of “Don Quixote” through Richard Strauss’ score; the concert “LNSO, Kristine Blaumane and ‘Don Quixote'” will also feature works by Maija Einfelde, Benjamin Britten and Anton Webern. The symphony orchestra’s season will then close on 14 May, conducted by Kristiina Poska, with a performance of Peteris Vasks’ Second Symphony and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto (soloist – the world-renowned violinist Sergey Khachatryan).
This season will also see LNSO chamber music concerts, taking place both at the Riga Congress Centre and at the Music House “Daile.” On 15 January at the Music House “Daile,” the chamber music concert “Soundscapes” will take place, featuring works by Peteris Vasks, Guillaume Connesson and other composers, performed by oboist Egils Upatnieks, clarinettist Martins Circenis, violinist Andrejs Jegorovs, violist Peteris Trasuns, double bassist Viktors Stankevics and pianist Elina Bertina.
LNSO musicians will also fill the Music House “Daile” with sound on 7 May at the concert “Tango and Jazz,” where, in what is now the fourth concert dedicated to tango music, violinists Sandis Steinbergs and Raimonds Melderis, violist Arigo Strals, cellist Ainars Paukshens and double bassist Raivo Ozols will perform, joined by accordionist Arturs Noviks and saxophonist Karlis Vanags. Chamber music at the Riga Congress Centre in the first half of 2026 will be heard on two occasions: on 19 February, the LNSO Cello Dream Team will perform a concert programme, and on 26 March the concert “Keys: Reich, Vasks and Bartok” will take place, featuring the orchestra’s percussionists Elina Endzele and Edgars Vaivods, together with pianists Evelina Jekabsone and Rihards Plesanovs.
Audiences will continue to be delighted and educated by the youth-favourite series “Symphonic Hit with Goran Gora.” On 5 February at the Riga Congress Centre, listeners will have the chance to attend the first meeting with Goran Gora in 2026, at the concert “Environment and Me,” in which symphonic hits intertwine with the relationship between people and the environment. On 16 April, audiences are invited to the concert “Symphonic Hit with Goran Gora. My Inner World,” which puts mental health themes at the forefront through the works of various composers. This concert will feature works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Camille Saint-Saens, Robert Schumann and Peteris Vasks. In the new season, “Symphonic Hit with Goran Gora” concerts will take place at both 12:00 and 19:00.
As always, with a light step and a broad smile, LeNeSOns invites the youngest symphonic music fans on exciting adventures, this season at the Riga Congress Centre. On 17 January at 11:00 and 14:00, everyone will stretch their legs, arms and hips together to the joyful rhythms of symphonic music in the concert programme “LeNeSOns Gets Sporty,” while on 14 March, at the same time and place, the sporting spirit will give way to an exciting encounter with theatre in the concert programme “LeNeSOns Goes to the Theatre,” featuring beloved songs from theatre productions, with a true festive atmosphere all around.
In its 100th season too, the LNSO offers listeners attractive concert subscriptions. The LNSO Spring Subscription 2026 includes four symphonic music concerts at the Riga Congress Centre from January to April. Tickets for the concerts are available at “Bilesu Paradize” sales points and online.