When music meets history – “Vivaldi and Friends” at the Jaunjelgava Roman Catholic church of Saint Cross

On March 15 at 12:00 p.m., the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Jaunjelgava will host a classical music concert entitled "Vivaldi and Friends." The event promises both a musical adventure and an opportunity to experience the charm and visual appeal of the concert venue, providing enjoyment for every listener and viewer.

The concert will feature compositions by Vivaldi, Mozart, Brahms, Elgar, and other outstanding composers performed by a string quartet. The compositions will be performed by internationally renowned musicians from Latvia, Germany, Armenia, and Spain, coming together in a sophisticated and emotional program.

The concert program will feature:

• A. Vivaldi – "The Four Seasons"
• W. A. Mozart – "A Little Night Music"
• E. Elgar – Salut d'Amour
• J. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No. 5
• K. Jenkins – Palladio

Entrance fee €10, tickets available before the concert, cash payment only.

The concert venue, the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Jaunjelgava, is a historic and unique building. It was built in 1902 on the site of an old chapel in honor of the Holy Cross. The church is still a wooden building, covered with wooden boards on the outside and a metal roof, and has a tower with two copper bells. The presbytery is lower and narrower than the rest of the church. Above the entrance to the church are the choir rooms, which are accessed by wooden stairs and supported by two wooden pillars, while the ceiling is supported by four wooden pillars. The church has one altar dedicated to the Holy Cross, depicting the image of the Saviour on the cross. The rooms feature Stations of the Cross, acquired in 1949, and several artistically significant 19th-century objects – a painted wooden altar and pulpit, a wrought-iron door handle and hinges. The church is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Riga, Jelgava Diocese. It became an independent parish in 1920. Services are held every Sunday and on holidays, with the most important parish holiday being the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Like all other buildings, churches are affected by the ravages of time and require renovation of their facades and towers in order to preserve their beauty for future generations. Everyone has the opportunity to "give strength to the church" by providing financial support for the necessary renovation work.

• The Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Jaunjelgava

Lāčplēša Street 4, Jaunjelgava, Aizkraukles Municipality

(+371) 29853938

GPS: 56.61758, 25.080109

This article was written using information from I. Bruņeniece's book Jaunjelgava.

The information for this publication was compiled by the Jaunjelgava Tourist Information Point, 33 Jelgavas Street, Jaunjelgava, Aizkraukle Municipality.