The Song and Dance Festival dedicated to the 800^th anniversary of the Latvian capital Riga closed on 29 July 2001 with 11,500 singers from a total of 288 choirs performing for the audience of tens of thousands of people.

The 2.5 hour-long closing concert featured songs dedicated to Riga, both classic ones and new pieces composed especially for the city's 800^th anniversary marked this summer. The gala concert was a multi-media production, where key streets and squares of Riga were described in song. Each part of the concert had its own theme, images and musical development, creating a garland of sonnets for Riga. The creative team behind the grand production say that in cities, streets are the link between the past and the future.

The Song and Dance Festival, which took place in Riga on Saturday and Sunday, was a prelude to series of culture events to be staged in Riga on its 800^th anniversary. The celebration is expected to reach its culmination on 17 - 19 August 2001.

BNS, LETA

Song and Dance Festival "Riga 800": http://www.dziesmusvetki-rigai800.lv

Celebration of the 800^th anniversary of Riga: http://www.riga800.lv/

No copyrights (photo by Mr Andrejs Kovalovs, Information Division, MFA)