A wedding goes awry when the venue catches fire and the bride is dragged into the underworld. Only a kokle player is brave enough – and musical enough – to venture there and save her. With its mummers, imps, three-headed demon king and singing mole cricket, I Played, I Danced is a story like none other. Composed in 1977, Imants Kalniņš’s elaborate musical language is blended with Latvian folk to create a unique and moving soundworld. Leading young Latvian director Laura Groza-Ķibere and visual artist Miķelis Fišers bring out the wild energy of this opera in their new production that forces us to ask: How much should we fight the demons of the past while striving for a better future?

Conversations before the premieres is a cycle of Latvian National Opera and Ballet’s educational events, giving an opportunity to listen to lectures on upcoming productions supplemented with musical performances, meet the creative team and participants of the production. This event will be devoted to the upcoming premiere of the opera Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea on June 9, 2023.