ANDREJS ZAGARS, since 1996 the General Director
of the Latvian National Opera, is one of the most interesting talents among
today's stage directors.
After graduating from the Latvian Academy of
Music and the Film Actor's Studio, he became a popular actor in Latvian and
Russian films, and on the theatre stage.
Under his leadership, the Latvian National Opera
has developed into an internationally acclaimed company, one of the most
progressive ones among the Eastern Europe opera houses. Lead by Andrejs Zagars,
the LNO took part in several international opera festivals and also toured to
Taiwan, to Hong Kong, to Mexico and Beijing as well as in Europe.
He participated at the Maifestspiele festival in
Wiesbaden and at the Kuresaare (Estonia) opera festival with The Flying
Dutchman, as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival with The Demon. His Lady Macbeth was performed in
Catania and at the Hong Kong International Arts festival. His Queen of Spades
was shown in Bordeaux and Luxembourg.
Andrejs Zagars established the annual
Riga Opera Festival as an international event that showcases the best
productions of the Latvian National Opera and attracts an international audience
as well as critics from the world's leading music magazines and
newspapers.
His fresh interpretations of classic opera works won praise in
the international press. Articles about Andrejs Zagars have appeared in The
Economist, The Financial Times, Arts Manager,
Opernglas, Opernwelt and other issues.
Furthermore, Andrejs
Zagars established a studio for young opera soloists in Riga. Many young talents
who today have an international carrier began in the studio.
As a stage director, Andrejs Zagars has
staged:
- The Flying Dutchman (Wagner) in 2002
- The Demon (Anton Rubinstein) in 2003
- The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) in 2005
- The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Shostakovich) in Riga and Nabucco
(Verdi) in Moscow in 2006
- La Traviata (Verdi) and Carmen (Bizet) in Riga in 2007
- Werther (Massenet) in Erfurt in 2008
- Prince Igor (Borodin) in Essen, Don Giovanni (Mozart) and
Werther in Riga in 2009
- Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss) in Budapest, Carmen in Bologna,
Uno Ball in Maschera (Verdi) in St. Petersburg, Il torvatore
(Verdi) in Klagenfurt, Eugene Onegin in Riga in 2010. Il torvatore
in Zagreb in June 2011
- Manon Lescaut in Tallinn in November 2011
- Lucia di Lammermoor in the Latvian
National Opera in May 2012 (starring outstanding Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka)
His future plans include Wagner’s Lohengrin in the Lithuanian
National Opera (2013) and the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre (2013),
Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery in The Perm State P.I.
Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre (2013) , Wagner’s Tannhдuser in
Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Music Theatre (2013) and Prague
Opera (2014).
Andrejs Zagars has received several
awards:
- 2012 State decoration of the Republic of Estonia - the Order of the Cross of
Terra Mariana
- 2011 Riga City council award on contribution of international promotion of
Riga - Title of “Citizen of Riga 2011”
- 2011 The Baltic Star International Prize for the development and
strengthening of humanitarian links between the countries of the Baltic Region
- 2011 Cross of Officer of the Order for Merits to Lithuania
- 2010 The Order of Friendship given by the President of Russia Dmitri
Medvedev for
- strengthening the culture link between Latvia and Russia
- 2008 The Award of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia for an
outstanding contribution to the development of a contemporary, dynamic and
internationally competitive Latvian National Opera (Latvia)
- 2008 Spidola Economy Award from the Latvian Economists
Association 2010 for popularizing latvian culture abroad, innovative
business solutions and successful work at the National Opera for twelve years
- 2006 Officer of the Order of Orange – Nassau (The Netherlands),
- 2002 The Order of the Three Stars (Republic of Latvia)
- 2001 Commander of the Legion d’Honneur – France