Opera luminaries Spiers & Rachvelishvili to Headline Latvian National Opera Concerts
Riga, Latvia – Internationally acclaimed opera stars Michael Spiers and Anita Rachvelishvili will each present solo concerts at the Latvian National Opera, offering audiences a diverse program spanning Italian, Spanish, Georgian, and Russian classical repertoire. Performances are scheduled to take place in the Great Hall, uniquely configured with the iron curtain lowered to optimize acoustics for chamber music.
These concerts represent a significant cultural event for Latvia, bringing world-renowned vocal talent to Riga and showcasing a range of operatic artistry. Rachvelishvili’s appearance is especially notable, following her breakout 2009 debut at Teatro alla Scala as Carmen alongside Jonas Kaufmann – a performance broadcast globally that launched her to international stardom. Spiers,celebrated for his interpretations of Italian song,will complement Rachvelishvili’s program,offering audiences a compelling contrast of styles and vocal prowess.
Anita Rachvelishvili’s concert will feature romantic Neapolitan songs composed by Francesco paolo Tosti, alongside works by Otar Taktakishvili, Peter Tchaikovsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. She will also perform Delilah’s aria from Camille Saint-Saëns’ Samson and Delilah and Azucena’s aria from Giuseppe Verdi’s il Trovatore. Rachvelishvili has performed leading roles at major opera houses worldwide, including the New York Metropolitan Opera, Bavarian State Opera, and vienna State Opera, with a current season including engagements at the Greek National Opera, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, and Teatro Real in Madrid.
Michael Spiers’ program details were not promptly available.
A Steinway & Sons concert grand piano, provided by Riga Stradins University, will accompany both artists. Patrons are advised that seating in the side balconies and further rows may offer limited visibility.
