Review for the festival Baltica'03, Ventspils,
19 October 2002

      I just has returned from Ventspils, where today passed first review for the festival Baltica'03. Six groups took part in it: Laipa, Sītava, Kāndla, suits from Jurkalne, Alshvanga and Gudenieki, and also Russian folklore ensemble Čńņīźč. Ensembles was performed in the same order. In the review jury was: Māra Mellēna, Signe Pujāte, Aina Salmane, Dainis Stalts and Ilze Ziņģīte.

Laipa

      Laipa has presented the subject of the festival ("ground") in a very interesting way: they offered a travel to different lands (in Latvian the word "zeme" means both "ground" and "land"). They have visited Kurland, Lifland, Lithuanland, they came to Germanland before Sun. At the end they sang about Russia and have returned home.

Sītava

      Sītava sang shepherds' songs.

Kāndla

      Kāndla sang both in Livonian and Ventin, however, irrespective of language singing sounded badly.

Maģie suiti

Suitu sievas

Gudenieku suiti

      Suits was united in common show about suits' weddings traditions. The ensembles have shown a different quality of performances. The bests was Alshvanga's women, which singing was really strong.

Istoki

      The performance of Istoki also was devoted to marriage.

Austra Čepeļevska

      During the review has passed the congratulation of a woman who for a long time works in the culture area of Ventspils region - Austra Čepeļevska.

      Article: Ieva Bērziņa, 19 October 2002
      Photos: Ieva Bērziņa