In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cēsis Museum and the beginning of the Latvian Cultural Capital 2025 year, the exhibition “Consolation” by Polish artist Laura Makabresku will open on February 6, 2025, at 16:00 PM at the Cēsis Museum.

Laura Makabresku is a laureate of several prestigious art photography competitions. Her works have been exhibited in Venice, the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, Poland, and other locations, as well as published in numerous international art magazines.

“What is consolation for me? It is closeness, listening to silence, the gift of beauty and hope, a prayer for someone I may not even know, yet I deeply believe that one day we will meet. This consolation would not exist if I had not first received it from God’s hands,” says the artist. In creating her works, she draws inspiration from silence, Orthodox icons, and magical realism literature. Through her art, viewers can experience the deeply personal yet universally significant revelation of earthly existence.

The exhibition invites visitors on a spiritual journey, where the interplay of physical sensations and the influence of a transcendent, omnipotent force can be experienced. The spiritual dimension unfolds as a fragile yet powerful space beyond boundaries, filled with silence, peace, and trust.

The exhibition will be on view until March 31.

The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the Ogre Museum of History and Art.

Supported by the Cēsis Municipality and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Latvia.

This text has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence.

Contemporary music from Berlin arrives in Cēsis with a concert program centered around Latvian composer Jānis Petraškevičs’ work “That Which Was Here Before”, written for two percussionists and ensemble. The piece is dedicated to percussionists Guntars Freibergs and Juris Āzers, the ensemble unitedberlin, and conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Its world premiere will take place at the Konzerthaus Berlin, followed by the Latvian premiere in Cēsis.

The program also features works by Anton Webern, Pierre Boulez, and other contemporary composers.

Founded in 1989, unitedberlin symbolizes the renewed connection between musicians in the formerly divided Berlin. Since then, the ensemble has performed at major music festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Warsaw Autumn, Venice Biennale, Milano Musica, Steirischer Herbst, Berliner Festwochen, Slowind in Ljubljana, and the Tehran Contemporary Music Days, alongside its regular performances in Berlin.

Since the early 1990s, unitedberlin has collaborated with internationally acclaimed conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Under his artistic advisory leadership from 2015 to 2019, the ensemble was in residence at Konzerthaus Berlin.

Vladimir Jurowski is the chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, and one of the most highly regarded conductors in the world.

For several years, Latvian percussionist Juris Āzers has been a member of unitedberlin. The upcoming concert in Cēsis marks the third program he and Guntars Freibergs will present as resident artists of the “Cēsis” Concert Hall.

As part of his songdreaming album tour, the widely beloved British singer-songwriter Sam Lee returns to Latvia for a special concert in Cēsis.

Sam Lee is one of the most fascinating figures in the UK music scene. A Mercury Prize-nominated artist, he is a creative and original arranger, folk music interpreter, passionate environmentalist, song collector, and event curator. His music is hypnotic yet ancient, noble yet joyous, romantic yet witty – all at once.

His artistic approach transcends the boundaries between traditional and contemporary music, challenging conventional notions of where and how folk music should be performed. His distinctive voice has helped bring new appreciation for the depth and relevance of ancient songs in today’s world.

His latest album, songdreaming – a critically acclaimed, powerful, and deeply moving work – takes his artistry to a new level.

“I wanted to sing a vision of what a conversation between us and the land could be. To restore immersion in nature through songs that bring healing – something we need now more than ever. When we stop singing to the earth, the earth stops singing back,” says Sam Lee.

In 2021, he published his debut book, The Nightingale: Notes on a Songbird, which explores the endangered bird’s cultural, folkloric, musical, and literary significance throughout history. Sam is also a radio and TV presenter and film soundtrack composer.

As February comes to a close, Cēsis will host a gathering of cultural and heritage experts, professionals, and enthusiasts from across Latvia at the forum “Cēsis 2025: Culture and Climate – A Dialogue on the Future and Quality of Life.”

Taking place on February 25 at the Cēsis Exhibition Hall, the forum will feature an extensive program fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue on the impact of climate change on cultural heritage and society’s quality of life.

Key discussion topics:

• Challenges in preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage
• Energy efficiency improvements in historical buildings
• Circular economy principles
• Public engagement in sustainable development

The forum will also explore Cēsis and Latvia’s cultural heritage in the global climate context and highlight innovative solutions for energy efficiency and cultural value preservation.

Moderator: Eva Johansone

As one of the pillars of Latvia’s Cultural Capital 2025, the environment and climate take center stage in this discussion.

This event will provide an excellent platform for networking, generating innovative business ideas, and inspiring future initiatives. See you there!

The full program and registration link will soon be available on cesis.lv.

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David Mamet’s (b. 1947) play American Buffalo portrays three small-time hustlers who devise a plan to steal an antique coin collection, hoping for a lucrative deal. However, they soon realize that their so-called business model puts their friendship to the test. As one character warns his younger accomplice: “There’s business, and there’s friendship”—two worlds that, unfortunately, don’t always coexist.

Premiering in 1975, American Buffalo won the Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play and made it to Broadway in 1977, receiving critical acclaim. Reviewers praised Mamet’s unique ability to capture the nuances and ambiguities of everyday American speech. As one critic put it: “Mamet is a playwright worth listening to. He is a rare breed—an American dramatist whose plays are driven by language.”

CAST:

• Kārlis Freimanis
• Aksels Aizkalns
• Rūdis Bīviņš or Artis Jančevskis

⚠️ Note: The play contains explicit language.

A dark comedy in two acts

• Premiere: May 7, 2022
• Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes