EXCLUSIVE PHOTO. Maria Naumov presents the museum with the legendary Eurovision winner’s dress

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Rudīte Menģelsone Jauns.lv, a representative of the LNVM Museum, reminded that in 2002 the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Tallinn, and Naumova’s victory ensured the international event in Latvia in 2003.

Naumova and costume designer Odetta Birmane were present at the dress handover ceremony, as well as vocalist Līga Robežniece, who participated in the performance of “Marie N” in 2002. The gift was accepted by Arnis Radiņš, Director of LNVM.

“It is a great pleasure that my Eurovision costume will be in the museum in the future. The victory in Eurovision was an unexpected and very emotional event that affected many Latvians. This festival united the whole society. I very much hope that the good memories of it will allow people to feel pride and joy in their country, which is very important now, ”said the singer Maria Naumova, handing over the legendary dress to the museum.

In her turn, the artist Odetta Birmane revealed that in the process of creating the dress, several attempts and dozens of attempts at movement took place until the desired result was achieved. She is very worried that the transforming function of the dress will work properly during the performance, but everything went perfectly.

Maria Naumova’s triumph at Eurovision 2002:

The costume was a very important part of the bright performance of the Latvian representative and therefore also became a significant, recognizable testimony of the era. The dress has already experienced its premiere as a museum exhibit – it was exhibited for three years in the joint museum exhibition “Latvian Century” dedicated to the centenary of the Latvian state, which ended in May this year. It was also one of the most visible and favorite exhibits in the section of the exhibition about Latvia’s return to Europe after the restoration of independence.

The victory of “Marie N” at Eurovision in 2002 was one of the important moments, which, like the victory of Latvian athletes or the success of professionals in other fields, caused special excitement and confidence in the ability of the Latvian people to achieve international recognition. It should be reminded that not only was well attended, but also very welcoming Marija Naumova and her team in Dome Square in Riga after winning the competition. Thus, the gift included in the museum’s collection is a witness to an important historical event at that time and the success of the Latvian artist, as well as telling a broader story about Latvia in the world at the beginning of the new millennium.