Jean-Guihen Queyras, Sinfonietta Riga and Normunds Šnē

On May 31, the concert hall Latvija will host a performance by renowned French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, joined by the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga and conductor Normunds Šnē.

The musical horizons of the extravagant cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras are remarkably broad—both in terms of repertoire and stage presence—offering a refreshing contrast to the norms of today’s musical world. Equally at home in music from various eras and styles, Queyras delights in challenging rigid frameworks, captivating audiences with his passion and performing alongside the world’s finest orchestras and conductors.

The program will feature Joseph Haydn’s graceful and lyrically melodic C Major Cello Concerto and his dramatically intense Symphony No. 95. Also on the program are two works by Hungarian master György Ligeti: Concert Românesc, a youthful tribute to Romanian folklore infused with romantic inspiration, and the Cello Concerto, a mature, avant-garde piece bursting with bold ideas.

Jean-Guihen Queyras' interpretations are distinguished by their stylistic diversity and unwavering focus on the emotional message of the music. He performs on a 1696 cello made by Gioffredo Cappa, lending a sense of effortless weightlessness to music both old and new. His artistic approach is unmistakable—driven by a deep curiosity, an appreciation for musical variety, and a clear dedication to conveying the essence of each composition.

Queyras has performed with world-renowned ensembles such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich under the batons of Philippe Herreweghe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, François-Xavier Roth, John Eliot Gardiner, and Roger Norrington.

“The world may be in turmoil, but humanity still holds so much beauty and goodness—art, creativity, culture. As artists, we cannot eliminate evil and aggression, but we have the duty to spread beauty as much as we can,” says Jean-Guihen Queyras.

In addition to the concert ticket, you can purchase a VIP experience – Music Lovers’ Club – which grants access to the “Greenroom” on the second floor of the concert hall. There, you can enjoy refreshments, use the cloakroom, and take part in exclusive meet-and-greets with the artists (€10).