Other events in Baltic States

During the Grand Music Awards 2014 ceremony at the Latvian National Opera last night, bass baritone Egils Silins took the Performance of the Year award, while soprano Inga Kalna was honored for performing the Concert of the Year, as Latvijas Koncerti representative Rinta Bruzevica told LETA.

Silins was presented the award for his performance in Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah" at the Great Guild Hall on December 13 and a solo concert at the National Opera on November 14, as well as participation in the festivals "Summertime" and "Artissimo".

The Concert of the Year award went to Kalna for her solo concert "Bel canto" at the National Opera on May 17.

Conductor Mariss Jansons received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The project "Bach. Passion. Riga", which included concerts in Riga Cathedral, St. Peter's Church and St. John's Church, was awarded as the European Musical Event of the Year.

Kristaps Petersons' opera "Mikhail and Mikhail Play Chess", staged at the National Opera by Viesturs Meiksans, was awarded as the Production of the Year. "Bach. Passion. Riga" and the opera were both part of Riga's European Capital of Culture program in 2014.

Argentine cellist Sol Gabetta was presented the Outstanding Interpretation award for the premiere of Peteris Vasks' cello concerto "Presence" at the Great Guild Hall on October 25 together with "Sinfonietta Riga" orchestra and conductor Normunds Sne.

Andris Dzenitis' "E[GO]" concerto for a saxophone and orchestra, which had its premiere at the Great Guild Hall on January 25, was presented the Composition of the Year award. The concert featured saxophonist Arvydas Kazlauskas and Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

Percussionist Janis Bombizo-Fedotovs was awarded as the New Artist of the Year.

The Grand Music Award ceremony at the National Opera was organized by Latvijas Koncerti in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.