Day 3 of our tour: Latvia!
We started with a delicious breakfast in Warsaw, and then bussed to the airport for a quick flight to Riga, Latvia.
Riga is beautiful! The temperature is 28 degrees (and will be nice all week). The designated title "European Capital of Culture of 2014" seems well deserved. The city centre was alive with choirs and music. After checking into our hotel, we had some lunch in a park, and spotted several choirs wandering and performing around town. We then met up with Zimfira who had traveled to Riga earlier as a jury member for the World Choir Games. We were all very happy to see her! The choristers had a rehearsal, then headed out for dinner.
After dinner we walked over to the World Choir Games Opening Ceremonies (formerly the World Choir Olympics). Here Allegria is standing inside the Olympic Rings showing their patriotism!
That was the best show I've ever seen! - one of the choristers after the World Choir Games Opening Ceremonies
The sold out Opening Ceremonies for the 8th World Choir Games in Arena Riga had 15,000 choristers in attendance - including the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš!
The ceremony functioned as a huge welcome for all participants, and was full pyrotechnics, exciting singing and dancing numbers accompanied by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and a flag presentation from all 74 participating countries (with many cheers from choirs from all around the globe!) The program culminated in a powerful group sing-along of the World Choir Games anthem "My song" by Latvian composer, Eriks Esenvalds.
This year's World Choir Games hosts more than 27,000 singers and 470 choirs from 6 continents. We are proud to be representing Canada!
The sold out Opening Ceremonies for the 8th World Choir Games in Arena Riga had 15,000 choristers in attendance - including the President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš!
The ceremony functioned as a huge welcome for all participants, and was full pyrotechnics, exciting singing and dancing numbers accompanied by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and a flag presentation from all 74 participating countries (with many cheers from choirs from all around the globe!) The program culminated in a powerful group sing-along of the World Choir Games anthem "My song" by Latvian composer, Eriks Esenvalds.
This year's World Choir Games hosts more than 27,000 singers and 470 choirs from 6 continents. We are proud to be representing Canada!
We capped the evening off with some pyrotechnics of our own, when our "serious business meeting" gave way to a surprise birthday celebration for Mercedes.
So ended day three of the tour. With a full day of rehearsals and city tours ahead of the group, Allegria, popped off to bed. Stay tuned for more adventures!