Virtual tour
Ziemeļrīgas kultūras apvienība
MEŽAPARKS GRAND BANDSTAND
Mežaparks Grand Bandstand is a cultural and historical structure in the green area of the city of Riga, the forest park known as Mežaparks, comprised of an Open-Air Stage, a concert hall, an exhibition hall, a pavilion, and a number of conference and seminar rooms.
The Grand Bandstand is a landmark of great cultural and historical importance – over the time, it has become a permanent venue for The Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, a tradition dating back to over 150 years ago. Even though the Open-Air Stage has already undergone a number of reconstructions and extensions, it still retains its initial historical visual appearance and serves as a perfect venue for mass cultural and entertainment events.
All guests and residents of Riga are welcome to visit this outstanding cultural site – The Mežaparks Grand Bandstand, main venue of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, visit its concert hall and see the expositions in the Exhibition Hall, as well as the Pavilion on any given day.
Construction of the original Grand Stage of Mežaparks began in 1954, primarily as a venue for the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration. The main author of the project at the time was architect Vladimir Shnitnikov. The main objective for the builders was to create a stage that would be capable to accommodate a 100 dancing pairs, 7 thousand singers and an audience of up to 37 thousand.
Following the completion of its construction in 1955, the Grand Stage welcomed its first mass event – the XII Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, which lasted from July 18 to July 22, 1955. Performances of the celebration featured 10 767 adult singers of the grand choir, 1665 young artists from the children’s choir, along with folk-dance shows that involved 1808 dancers. Other performers included 1500 amateur talents from professional schools, 152 musicians from eight different brass bands, 1 530 choristers and bandsmen of the garrison of Riga. Leading conductors: T. Kalniņš, J. Mediņš, H. Mednis, J. Ozoliņš, L. Vīgners. After a major reconstruction, the territory of the Mežaparks Grand Bandstand has increased from about 92 000 square metres to over 146 400. The area of the spectator field is 22 thousand square metres, and the spectator area is fitted with 30 557 portable spectator seats; apart from that, the standing area can accommodate an audience of 50 000. Choir stands are now large enough to accommodate up to 16 000 singers.
STORY OF THE “SILVER GROVE”
The unique story of the “Silver Grove” of the Mežaparks Grand Bandstand begins in 2007. Its architectonic and artistic concept was authored by Austris Mailītis, Ivars Mailītis and Matīss Mailītis, as well as the chief architect and the project director – Juris Poga.
The idea of the architectonic concept of the renewed Grand Bandstand is based on Latvian folk songs, telling tales of the synergy between nature and humankind. The concept is based on several symbols: a MOUNTAIN, a TREE, a GROVE, LEAVES, a TREE CROWN, which forms an essence and spatial composition of the bandstand, thus creating an associative illustration of Latvian landscape and worldly wisdom praised by Latvian folk songs. “I was walking through a silver grove, and I never broke a single branch…” In symbolic terms, the choral bandstand is a MOUNTAIN, and the symbolic elements of roof structure symbolizes the TREE. Tree intertwines into a GROVE – the roofing structure spanning the stage building and choral stands. Trees symbolically sprawl their branches over the singers below. The stage roof structure is also fitted with controlled stage equipment: acoustic shields, audio devices, lighting decorations, protection from rain. Symbolic LEAVES form the TREE CROWN. This part of the stage creates an acoustic environment and scenography suitable for a variety of event types. The entire stage complex (the stage area along with the spectator field) forms a shape reminiscent of a cradle, or maybe an egg – a symbolic CRADLE OF SONGS, A SYMBOL OF LIGHT AND A NEW BEGINNING. The architectonic image of the Song Celebration stage is integrated with the natural environment of its surroundings.
OPEN-AIR STAGE
The intertwining “tree patterns” of the stage is a unique structure of pillars and trusses, rising to a height of 35.8 metres. The metal structure of the bandstand has been manufactured by the largest metalworks factory of Hungary – this was the nearest enterprise in possession of appropriate manufacturing facilities with robotics, capable of producing trusses and pipes of such magnitude and complexity, the longest being 23 metres in length. Each branch of the metal structure is angled individually – these were designed with 3D technology, assembled at the factory, inspected, scanned, labelled, and only then shipped to Riga. There is a total of 150 diamond-shaped acoustic shields suspended on metal trusses. This site is recognised as unique and complex, even at the European level, the only one to have such an individual acoustic solution. Andris Zabrauskis, one of Latvia’s leading acoustics experts, claims that this sound reflector system is the largest in the world (as of 2022).
ROOFING MEMBRANE OF THE MEZAPARKS GRAND BANDSTAND
The covering of the new roof membrane measures in 5 324 square metres and rests on 43 pillars. Seven specialists from Germany and 19 local climbers were involved in the installation of the membrane in the bandstand dome. The glass fiber for the membrane was produced by a Latvian company from Valmiera.
BUILDING OF THE MEZAPARKS GRAND BANDSTAND
Since the completion of its major reconstruction in summer 2021, the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand is managed by Culture Association of Northern Riga, also comprised of the VEF Culture Palace and Culture Palace “Ziemeļblāzma”, that shapes the course of cultural life in the Northern part of the city of Riga. All five floors of the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand building features spacious premises:
- an acoustic concert hall with 500 spectator seats and a large backstage with lavish dressing rooms;
- an exhibition hall;
- 3 seminar / conference rooms fit for 50 – 240 guests;
- a pavilion for seminars and wide variety of events.
Premises of the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand, as well as the Open-Air Stage, and its surrounding territory is available for rent as grand venue for concerts, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, creative workshops, corporate and other events.
PAVILION
Opened after reconstruction on May 5, 2022. The Pavilion of the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand offers insights into the history of this splendid place. It features models of all stages previously built to accommodate the Latvian Song Celebration, starting with the very first monumental event held in 1873. The Pavilion has been designed by architects of Grand Bandstand reconstruction – Juris Poga and Austris Mailītis.
PERGOLA
Reconstruction of the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand also featured the construction of the Pergola – Latin for “shade gazebo”, for the sake of visitors’ comfort. This is a unique reinforced concrete structure with decorative wooden ceilings beneath the large spectator field. It features ample amenities for visitors and 2 floors of shops and food outlets.