- Address: Turaidas 1, Jūrmala, LV-2015, Latvia;
- Founded: in 1936;
- Website: dzintarukoncertzale.lv;
- Phone: +371 67 762 005.
The Concert Hall "Dzintari" is rightly considered the highlight of the city of Jurmala . It is located just a few meters from the shore of the Gulf of Riga , so visitors can not only listen and see the performance of famous singers, but also breathe the sea air, admire the scenery.
Dzintari - the history of origin
About "Dzintari" know both in Latvia and abroad, so the playground is never empty in the summer season. The first musical events were shown here in the second half of the 19th century. At that time the hall was called "Edinburgh", it was so designated by the title of the Duke of Edinburgh, who is the husband of Princess Maria of the Romanov dynasty.
The first scene appeared in 1897, mainly dance music and various operettas were shown, but circus numbers and variety shows were also shown. Sharp changes occurred after a symphony orchestra was invited from Berlin. It consisted of about 70 musicians, led by the famous Franz von Blon. Since 1910 began to invite and eminent music figures from the Russian Empire. Concert life was incredibly intense until 1914. During this period, the orchestra of the Imperial Mariinsky Theater, opera theaters performed on stage. But the beginning of new military operations put an end to concert activity.
Resuming popularity
The musicians return to the stage in 1920, when the concertmaster Albert Berzins takes over. Eleven years after the selection of the repertoire, the conductor Arvids Parups zealously accepted. In 1935, it was decided to build a closed hall.
The improved "Dzintari" hall in Jurmala again receives visitors on July 25, 1936. The project was designed by architects Victor Mellenbergs and Alexander Birznieks. Musical performances were held both on an open and closed ground, sometimes gathering an audience of up to several tens of thousands.
A new breakdown of concert activity occurred because of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. After its completion, it was decided to update and improve the roof overlap. Gradually, the "Dzinatri" hall becomes the best venue in Latvia, with such famous artists as Arkady Raikin, Laima Vaikule, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich. The first song contest "Jurmala" was organized here in 1986.
Construction Features
The building of the hall was completed in 1962, the architect of the project was the architect Modris Gelzis. Later, significant reconstruction was carried out, in particular, a modern acoustic system and heated seats were installed. On the five-level stage there are performances of symphony orchestras, various choirs give concerts.
At the moment, "Dzintari" (Jurmala) is divided into two sites - Big and Small:
- The big hall is open, there is a roof, but there are no walls, seats are allocated for two thousand people.
- Small Hall is a wooden structure, which has been categorized as architectural monuments. It consists of three parts and can accommodate no more than 500 spectators. In the interior, there are motifs of national romanticism. They serve as a confirmation of the beauty of "Dzintari" photos, which can be found before visiting him.
How to get to Dzintari?
You can get to the concert hall "Dzintari" by public transport, which operates in Jurmala - buses or minibuses. You can get to Dzintari by going on the train from Riga , in this case it will take about 40 minutes. Exit follows at the stop, which bears the same name - "Dzintari."