Today we bought tickets to the Shakespeare’s Globe production of Hamlet. Very much looking forward to that in May. The Dailes Teatirs is a half a block away, so it will be very easy. We waited too long to buy tickets so we missed out on the 10 euro seats in the nose bleed section but we got better seats for a still quite reasonable price – equivalent to what they are charging in Pocatello to see the student/faculty production of Verdi’s Requiem. Riga’s ticket prices are surprisingly low.
Recently enjoyed viewing the postdramatic, theatre concrete production Long Life by renowned, and controversial Latvian director Alvis Hermanis. It showed a “day in the life” of two aging couples and one man who share an apartment in Soviet Latvia. Hyper-realistic set and wonderful details in acting. No real “drama”, no dialogue. Wonderful production that has been running, sold-out, for over ten years.
The European Capital of Culture Exhibition, 1914 at the Arsenals Gallery featured some wonderful paintings, prints and sculptures as well as photos of WWI Lativan soldiers. We love the turn of the century modernists. The gallery also had remnants from old manor houses that were destroyed during the war, thus erasing a huge part of Latvian culture. This was accompanied by a very effective sound installation, Les Archives du Coeur by Christian Boltanski. As part of the installation we had our heartbeats recorded and were given CDs of the record of our hearts.
Went to Bob’Art by the five member Opinion Public Contemporary Dance. Great dancers in desperate need of a good choreographer. Disappointed. Mid-way through, after seeing basically the same moves done in unison to slightly different music with different costumes yet again, Jo leaned over and said, “I’m getting bored”. I felt the same way.
We have satellite TV in the apartment. The English-language stations are limited. Seeing a lot of Discovery and Science Channels. Noting that “weird” people (a lot of rednecks), “survival”, and the potential of making a lot of money by finding some sort of treasure are the favorite topics. Very odd seeing The Simpsons dubbed into German – rather sad to see the adolescent humor of Two and a Half Men making it to Germany as well. The Latvian Russian-language stations feature a man talking over American programs for all voices that are just barely discerned. It is rather bizarre to see that Judge Judy has a Russian audience here.
Recently enjoyed viewing the postdramatic, theatre concrete production Long Life by renowned, and controversial Latvian director Alvis Hermanis. It showed a “day in the life” of two aging couples and one man who share an apartment in Soviet Latvia. Hyper-realistic set and wonderful details in acting. No real “drama”, no dialogue. Wonderful production that has been running, sold-out, for over ten years.
The European Capital of Culture Exhibition, 1914 at the Arsenals Gallery featured some wonderful paintings, prints and sculptures as well as photos of WWI Lativan soldiers. We love the turn of the century modernists. The gallery also had remnants from old manor houses that were destroyed during the war, thus erasing a huge part of Latvian culture. This was accompanied by a very effective sound installation, Les Archives du Coeur by Christian Boltanski. As part of the installation we had our heartbeats recorded and were given CDs of the record of our hearts.
Went to Bob’Art by the five member Opinion Public Contemporary Dance. Great dancers in desperate need of a good choreographer. Disappointed. Mid-way through, after seeing basically the same moves done in unison to slightly different music with different costumes yet again, Jo leaned over and said, “I’m getting bored”. I felt the same way.
We have satellite TV in the apartment. The English-language stations are limited. Seeing a lot of Discovery and Science Channels. Noting that “weird” people (a lot of rednecks), “survival”, and the potential of making a lot of money by finding some sort of treasure are the favorite topics. Very odd seeing The Simpsons dubbed into German – rather sad to see the adolescent humor of Two and a Half Men making it to Germany as well. The Latvian Russian-language stations feature a man talking over American programs for all voices that are just barely discerned. It is rather bizarre to see that Judge Judy has a Russian audience here.