In 2026, from March 1 to 14, the Liepaja International Star Festival - one of the most important events in classical music in Latvia - will take place for the 34th time, which every year brings together outstanding artists from Latvia and abroad.
The closing concert of the Liepāja International Stars Festival (14.03. 18.00 in the Liepāja Concert Hall “Lielais dzintars”) promises to be a spectacular and emotionally charged finale, featuring the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra alongside two of Northern Europe’s brightest musical stars — conductor Christian Lindberg and pianist Roland Pöntinen.
This concert marks the culmination of the festival, which year after year has become a highlight of Latvia’s cultural life — known for its thoughtfully curated programs, brilliant guest artists, and unforgettable atmosphere.
The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra will be led by Christian Lindberg, a world-renowned trombonist, conductor and composer. In his previous appearances, he left a lasting impression with his passion and ability to unlock the orchestra’s full potential.
This encounter will be special because Lindberg will present the audience with two of his own original works — the symphonic piece “Tarantula” and the trombone concerto “El poder de la vida” (“The Power of Life”), which will receive its world premiere.
As a composer, Lindberg has received commissions from orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with many of the world’s leading orchestras — including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and others — have premiered his works.
This will be a unique opportunity for listeners to experience Lindberg’s creative power and witness a vibrant event in contemporary symphonic music at the festival’s climax.
Under the direction of Christian Lindberg, together with Roland Pöntinen at the piano, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra will perform a gem of the Romantic era – Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto, which features both lyrical themes and dramatic climaxes and is a subtle dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra.
Unlike many 19th-century concertos, Schumann avoids soloist dominance, instead crafting an organic partnership where piano and orchestra are equal voices.
Swedish pianist Roland Pöntinen is known for his distinctive individuality and creative vision. His interpretations combine intellectual precision with spontaneous imagination. His playing balances structural clarity with expressive freedom — sometimes even theatrical — allowing each opus to reveal its own dramatic narrative. In his hands, Schumann’s fragility and passion gain new intensity.
But the expressive and dramatic Symphony No.5 by Danish composer Carl Nielsen, included in the program, surprises with its architectural structure and musical tension — a struggle between chaos and order, where the orchestra becomes a storyteller guiding the listener through inner turmoil and revelation.
The Festival, organized by the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, has become an integral part of Liepaja's cultural life, offering bright concerts, high -quality repertoire and unforgettable musical adventures.
The festival program is available HERE.
Tickets for the festival concerts are available on the “Biļešu paradīze” network.
The 34. Liepāja International Stars Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the Liepāja City and Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga.
