Festival news
Alvis Hermanis named Rigan of the Year
20th o November 2009
New Riga Theater Artistic Director Alvis Hermanis has been recognized as the "Rigan of the Year" in 2009.
Hermanis is currently busy working on a new production at the Vienna "Burgtheater", therefore in a ceremony on November 18 at the Riga City Council the award was presented to his parents.
In a message to other fellow residents of Riga the director writes that he is very grateful for the honor showed to him by naming him the Rigan of the Year. "I am among the Rigans who not always are present and working in their home city. However, also abroad I always represent the culture of Riga, its mentality and the special perception of life that only Rigans have. Also the New Riga Theater, the only theater company in town with the name of Riga in its title, has been representing the special energy of the capital of Latvia in more than 30 countries, in around 100 cities, from Madrid to Moscow, from Paris to Singapore," Alvis Hermanis wrote.
"I have often tried to define my city, both for myself and for foreigners. But I have not managed to. Probably it is so because I am myself part of the city, and I cannot look at it from aside. However, one thing is clear: Riga has an old, wise and sad soul. It has seen so much and lived through so many things that its soul has become saddened and wise. As an old man's eyes: ironic, but benevolent and philosophical. It is a mystic city. And we are under a peculiar kind of spell: it is impossible to leave Riga, no matter how far one goes."
The "Rigan of the Year" award is a LVL 500 cash prize, a statuette, designed by Girts Burvis, and a diploma, signed by the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs.
Source: www.culture.lv
