Multimedia Monopera VALENTINA

On April 7, at 7:00 p.m., in Riga, at the VEF Culture Palace, the Operetta Theatre's multimedia new production - the monopera 'Valentina' premiere will take place. It is a full-scale opera by the internationally renowned Latvian composer Arturs Maskats, reinterpreted as a chamber version. The leading role of Latvian cultural legend Valentina Freimane's love story will be portrayed by opera diva Sonora Vaice (soprano), who is also the director of the upcoming performance.

The opera unfolds a contradictory and dramatic panorama of Latvian and European history from 1939 to 1944. 'The opera is infused with a beautiful, poignant story of deep love. Valentina's charming, wise personality, radiating love, stands in stark contrast to the events, time, and environment in which the action unfolds. It is a testament to the possibility of love despite circumstances that have brought great devastation and much suffering, and which we never want to experience again, yet remain relevant in today's complex world situation. With this production, the Operetta Theatre continues its in-depth exploration of the multifaceted nature of women through the form of multimedia monopera, initiated in 2021 with Sonora Vaice's directorial debut 'The Voice of Man. Telephone,' which received the highest national music award - the 'Great Music Award,' says Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska, the artistic director of the Operetta Theatre.

The opera is a tribute to the Latvian cultural legend - the outstanding cinema scientist Valentīna Freimane (1922-2018). 'Valentīna Freimane's life was a huge collection of VALUES and HUMANITY - CONSCIOUSNESS or UNconsciousness. If we delve deeper and understand the experiences and trials of such a wise figure, wars in the world would end,' - the director of the performance.

'I was delighted to learn that Arturs Maskats' opera 'Valentina' will be re-staged by high-caliber professionals, and I eagerly await the premiere on April 17. The events depicted in the opera allow us to look at people during times of great crises. Even now, the war in Ukraine signifies a deep crisis in the Western world, where each of us has a role to play, therefore, I believe that the opera 'Valentina' is relevant and will foster reflection on the essential,' believes the librettist Liāna Langa.

Valentīna Freimane's childhood unfolded between Riga and Berlin, where her father was a lawyer for the UFA film studio, and her mother - a captivating socialite around whom the flower of the cinema world of the time gathered. Upon returning to Riga, the intelligent Jewish family was shocked by mass genocide - the systematic, purposeful, and brutal extermination of Jews, in which Valentina's parents and husband perished, but then still very young Valentina remained hidden until the end of the war. An extremely significant theme in the performance is the theme of love, which played a significant role in Valentina Freimane's fate, with her miraculous survival from the horrors of the Holocaust allowing her to endure till the end.

Sonora continues: 'In this - the Operetta Theatre production, the opera, originally written in full format, I will create as a monopera. On stage, my partners will be musicians: violinist Gidons Grīnbergs, accordionist Inita Āboliņa, pianist Māris Žagars, to whom a very complex task is entrusted. They will also act as actors, portraying various characters in Valentina's colorful love story.'

The production will feature both pre-recorded videos and studio-recorded audios, in which actors such as: Ģirts Ķesteris, Zigurds Neimanis, Egils Melbārdis, Kārlis Rūtentāls, Aivars Krancmanis, Gidons Grīnbergs, Henrijs Kozlovskis, master of step dance and school developer Māris Pūris, and:

Iveta Apine, Agnese Pauniņa, Dace Strautmane, Inga Martinsone, Rūdolfs Bacāns, Vitālijs Stankevičs, Pēteris Vaickovskis. 'Together with my beloved creative team, we will reveal our version of Valentina's life in music and multimedia. Ineta Sipunova, multimedia artist and scenographer, excels in visually creating scenes that speak for themselves and allow complete immersion in the space,' says Sonora Vaice about the concept.

The world premiere of the first opera 'Valentina' by the internationally renowned Latvian composer Arturs Maskats took place on December 5, 2014, becoming one of the most significant events in Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 program. The libretto of the opera was created by Arturs Maskats and poet Liāna Langa based on motifs from Valentīna Freimane's autobiographical novel 'I Rejected, Atlantis!' (2010). Upon assuming the Presidency of the European Council, the opera 'Valentina' was included in Latvia's public diplomacy and cultural program. 'Valentina' remains one of the special events that are still remembered in Latvia-Germany cultural relations and diplomatic circles.

Ineta Sipunova has worked with top directors of theater and opera in Riga, Milan, Berlin, Salzburg, Vienna, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, including creating video projections for director Alvis Hermanis' operas in Milan 'Madama Butterfly,' Vienna 'Parsifal,' Salzburg Festival 'Il Trovatore,' Berlin Comic Opera 'Così fan tutte,' and 'Jenůfa' at La Monnaie theater in Brussels. She has created video art objects in France, Finland (Rauma Biennial), Germany (Ars Novi festival), among others.

The performance will feature opera singer Sonora Vaice (soprano), Gidons Grīnbergs (violin), Inita Āboliņa (accordion), and Māris Žagars (piano). Director Sonora Vaice, choreographer Ieva Kemlere, costume designer Antra Hanna Elerta ('Cinnamon'), multimedia artist and scenographer Ineta Sipunova, step dance trainer-consultant Māris Pūris, prima ballerina Liāna Repule, lighting designer Ivars Vācers, video filming assistants Adams Vaicis and Marks Frīdbergs, producer Agija Ozoliņa-Kozlovska.

The production is supported by VKKF.