Musical evening in the Riga synagogue

For decades the Riga synagogue on Peitavas street has been the center of religious life for Latvian Jews. After the renovation that was finished this year, it became an attractive sight for tourists as one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in Riga.

In late November the Riga synagogue took on another meaning – it became a concert hall.

In cooperation with the German embassy in Latvia, it hosted a concert by the recognized German viola performer Ulrich von Wrochem, a soloist for the La Scala orchestra and the Berlin Opera who holds master classes all over the world.

The concert’s program included classical and avant-garde music by Jewish composers of the 20th century – Ernest Bloch, Gideon Klein, Yehesekiel Braun, Ben-Zion Orgad, Josef Tal, Gyorgy Ligeti, Emmanuel Witzthum.

Ulrich von Wrochem played a unique instrument from 1700. The public was enchanted by the extraordinary quality of his playing, the unusual style and interpretation of compositions. The musician got into the spirit of the pieces he performed, penetrating the depth of their drama and reaching a high degree of emotional expression that was passed on to the listeners.
Spiritual singing by the baritone Zeev Shulman complimented the concert harmonically.

The musical evening was an unforgettable event for the Jewish community and all music devotees, as it was the first public concert in the Riga synagogue in the last seventy years. In the future, regular musical evenings in the synagogue are planned.