Raimonds Ozols Concert at Dzintari

Literally just an hour ago we returned from a damp, now autumnal Jūrmala, where on the evening of 30 August the concert "Enter My World" by Raimonds Ozols, concertmaster of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, took place at Dzintari Concert Hall. It drew a full audience, including the President with his wife.

The concert lasted from 19:00 until nearly 22:00, by which time deep darkness had already enveloped the concert hall. It consisted of two parts: the first lyrical and calm, the second dynamic, magnificent, and varied. Initially it seemed as though the drums, electric guitar, and synthesiser were drowning out Ozols's violin, but in the second part it regained its dominant place in the overall sound.

Music was performed in arrangements by Raimonds Macats and Kārlis Lācis, as well as original works by Valts Pūce, Aivars Gudrais, and Jānis Lūsēns, and compositions from Raimonds Ozols's albums "Between Heaven and Earth" and "Enter My World". The concert featured both the LNSO String Section and the accompanying ensemble, as well as special guests: Dita Krenberga, Sonora Vaice, and Niks Matvejevs. Composer Mārtiņš Brauns was also invited from the audience to jointly perform an old favourite piece.

A surprise (at least for me) was that Raimonds Ozols is not only a gifted violinist but also the owner of a fine voice. A couple of songs were also performed in his own singing. From the first part of the concert, Chopin's "Nocturne" remained in memory, and of course Monti's "Csárdás" - in violin rendition uniquely lyrical and energetic. In the second part, variety was provided by the guests' performances alongside the violinist, as well as an unforgettable interplay of laser beams and music in the concert's closing section.

A small glimpse of the concert:

More about Raimonds Ozols and his violin playing - http://www.raimondsozols.com/lv/