“Nāc mūzikā” — A Concert Performance Celebrating Andris Eniņš’s 80th Birthday

On June 6, 2026, the concert performance “Nāc mūzikā” (Come into Music), dedicated to the 80th birthday of Andris Eniņš, took place in the Great Hall of the Liepāja Latvian Society House.

Nearly 40 singers, musicians and puppet theatre artists came together on stage for one special evening — individuals and ensembles whose paths had been closely connected with Andris Eniņš’s music at different points in their lives.

The programme featured exclusively works composed by Eniņš, ranging from his earlier, well-loved children's songs performed by the youngest participants, just five years old, to more recent compositions written in an entirely different musical language.

The concert performance brought together the travelling puppet theatre “MASKA”, the women's vocal ensemble “JŪTI” from the Ķekava Cultural Centre, Liepāja Vocal Arts Studio “STARI”, former students of Dzintra Orba, director of the vocal ensemble “Gaismiņa”, soloists Juris Pavītols, Laura Bulava and Pēteris Trups, as well as musicians Austris Kalniņš (piano), Jānis Rubiks (bass) and Ernests Mediņš (percussion).

The artistic director and organiser of the concert performance was Laura Bulava, with the script written by Pēteris Trups. The event was organised by the association “Lai skan” with financial support from the Liepāja Culture Department.

Andris Eniņš also holds a special place in the history of “LAI SKAN!”. Together with Pēteris Trups, he not only developed the original idea for the festival–competition but also personally organised it, taking care of even the smallest, most heartfelt details. Andris and his wife would bake traditional Latvian pastries (pīrāgi) themselves to share with participants on competition day.

Although Andris Eniņš had planned to attend the anniversary concert, health reasons unfortunately prevented him from joining at the last moment. Yet his music was everywhere that evening — in the voices of children and adults, and in the people who had sung his songs at different stages of their lives.

“Nāc mūzikā” became a reunion across generations — through songs, people and stories that continue to resonate.