12. September, 2026
At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, audiences are once again invited to the annual organ music festival "Organs of Zemgale", which, as in the previous two years, is once again an international event.
This year's festival is guided by the motto "Bring into the Light!" It reflects three main goals: to celebrate Latvia's and other countries' forgotten musical treasures, including works inspired by the theme of light; to remind audiences of outstanding Latvian artists who may be applauded around the world but are perhaps not fully appreciated at home; and to honour small rural churches, especially their remarkable organs, many of which have not yet found their rightful place in the wider concert scene for various reasons.
From 15 August to 12 September, the festival will present five concerts in five churches across the municipalities of Jelgava and Bauska.
The festival concludes on Saturday, 12 September, at 6:00 PM in Bārbele Lutheran Church (Bauska Municipality). Organist Ilona Birģele will present a solo recital entitled "The Latvian and the Unknown". The concert will bring into the spotlight both rarely performed music in Latvia and, above all, the magnificent historic organ of Bārbele Church. The programme will unite Latvian music with distant and unfamiliar sounds, meditation with energetic dance rhythms, refined subtlety with dramatic battle scenes. Notably, part of the programme echoes the opening concert of the festival, symbolically bringing the musical journey full circle.
The closing concert will not be the only organ-related event at Bārbele Church on 12 September. At 4:00 PM, the festival's Artistic Director, organist Dāvis Beitlers, will present an accessible lecture, held in connection with the European Heritage Days, on Latvia's historic organs, with a special focus on the regions of Zemgale, Sēlija and Kurzeme. Organ restorer Alvis Melbārdis will also speak about the preservation and maintenance of historic organs. After the concert, both lecturers will offer visitors a close-up presentation of the Bārbele Church organ. As in the previous two years, organ demonstrations in the church gallery will also take place after the other festival concerts.
Admission is free. Donations to the host congregations are warmly appreciated.