Mirage Jazz Orchestra Jubilee Gala Concert 2025

July 6th, 8:00 PM    

Dzintari Concert Hall

MIRAGE JAZZ ORCHESTRA Jubilee Gala Concert

MIRAGE JAZZ ORCHESTRA (conducted by Lauris Amantovs) celebrates its 20th anniversary with a Gala concert at Latvia's most prestigious venue - the Dzintari Concert Hall. The orchestra actively performs at various jazz festivals worldwide, regularly participates in TV shows (e.g., “Musical Bank” and others) and radio broadcasts, international ballroom dance competitions like the "Baltic Grand Prix" and more. Thanks to its versatile activities and ability to offer music in various styles, it has become an integral part of our country's musical life. Today, we can confidently say - it is one of the most professional jazz orchestras not only in Latvia but throughout the Baltics! 

Ilona Bagele is a soloist of the Latvian National Opera and one of the most sought-after concert artists in Latvia, with extensive experience in academic, jazz, and popular music. The singer has collaborated with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian National Armed Forces Orchestra, and has frequently performed with the Riga Orchestra. As a soloist, she has participated in several concert programs by maestro Raimonds Pauls. 

Rūta Dūduma-Ķirse is possibly the most versatile Latvian vocalist, showcasing her singing skills in popular, ethnic, Latvian pop, and musical genres, having been a backing vocalist for almost all Latvian (and not only) singers. As a jazz singer, she won the Grand Prix at the Nomme Jazz competition (EST, 2013) and took 3rd place at the Riga Jazz Stage (LV, 2018), recorded an album with the Lauras Amantovs Quartet «Each Has Their Own Folk Song» (2022). She has given concerts at jazz festivals - Turku Jazz (FIN), Kaunas Jazz (LT), Jazz n Chisinau (MD), Rigas Ritmi (LV), Saulkrasti Jazz (LV), and others. For 10 years, she has been singing in one of the most professional jazz a cappella groups, FRAMEST, and is one of the soloists of the musical ensemble "Vintāža."  

Arūnas Viduolis is a Lithuanian saxophonist who completed his jazz studies at Klaipėda University, having trained in Spain with various distinguished teachers. He actively participates in Lithuania's jazz concert scene, heads the Panevėžys Big Band, is a member of the group GinGas, a musician with "Arina ir Veto Bank," and a saxophonist in the legendary Lithuanian guitarist Alexandras Dunis' quintet. Arūnas regularly performs with various famous Lithuanian pop musicians, participates in recordings and TV shows. 

Alexandras Dunis is a jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, band leader, and producer. He is a teacher at VD University and a lecturer for the Kaunas Big Band. Alexandras Dunis has performed with various projects in many countries worldwide and continues to participate in festivals and concerts in Lithuania and international jazz music festivals.

Normunds Rutulis is a Latvian singer, music and radio producer, songwriter, radio DJ, and TV show host. Widely known as a performer of schlager and pop music songs, he is recognized by the pseudonym N'Works as a song remix author. Since 1995, he has collaborated with Raimonds Pauls. He is one of the few Latvian soloists who has received 10 Latvian Music Recording of the Year Awards.

Grigorijs Kovaļevskis is a legendary musician, double bassist. He has played in the orchestras of two outstanding conductors - Kirill Kondrashin and Rudolf Barshai, and was with Arvīds Jansons during his prime and his son Māris' early successes. His partners have included such eminent musicians as Sviatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich, Pinchas Zukerman, Eliso Virsaladze and Natalia Gutman, Mischa Maisky and Mikhail Pletnev, the Borodin Quartet, and Evgeny Kissin, Gerard Caussé and Tabea Zimmermann. Tonight, he will surely surprise you by performing in an unusual role.

The concert also features students from the Jazz Department of the Riga Cathedral Choir School.