CONFERENCE
“In Japan, while children are growing up and attending school, mothers typically do not work. As a result, women receive substantial support for meaningful leisure activities and a high quality of life—including singing in choirs. A particularly special event is the Saitama Prefectural Mothers’ Chorus Festival, held annually and open exclusively to women’s choirs,” says Māra Marnauza, Artistic Director of Choir “Balta”.
Choir “Balta” attended the festival as a special international guest at the invitation of the Japanese women’s choir “Grace Choir”. The Latvian singers first met “Grace Choir” in 2024 at a festival on Jeju Island, South Korea. At that time, the Japanese choir was deeply impressed by “Balta’s” performance of the Latvian folk song Saulīt vēlu vakarāi in Andris Sējāns’ arrangement. This year, the piece was performed with great soul and emotion in a joint rendition by both choirs at the Saitama Arts Theater. The concert also featured outstanding Latvian National Opera and Ballet soloist Ilona Bagele, as well as the Latvian choir in Japan “Gaisma” and the choir “Vox Aurora”.
Each choir presented its own programme, and the concert concluded with shared performances of the Latvian folk song Dziedot dzimu, dziedot augu (arranged by Alfrēds Kalniņš) and the renowned Japanese song Furusato (“Hometown”). For this occasion, one verse of Furusato was specially arranged for Choir “Balta” and performed in Latvian. At the close of the festival, the popular Japanese song Sakura was performed jointly under the direction of conductor Māra Marnauza.
“The concert was a deeply emotional musical collaboration between Japanese and Latvian choirs—one that will further strengthen cultural ties between our two countries. The event was also honoured by the presence of Latvia’s Ambassador to Japan, Zigmārs Zilgalvis, and other representatives of the Embassy,” says Marnauza.
As part of the festival, Japanese choir conductors and singers also had the opportunity to take part in masterclasses led by Māra Marnauza—Chief Conductor of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration—and by “Balta’s” vocal coach Ilona Bagele.
Choir “Balta” and its Artistic Director Māra Marnauza extend sincere thanks to every donor whose contribution made the choir’s participation in the festival in Japan possible, as well as to the University of Latvia Foundation for its support in organising the fundraising campaign.
More about the project can be heard in the Latvian Radio 3 programme Sidraba birzs, broadcast on 29 March 2026. Here.
