As the “Baltic Pearl” film festival opens at Riga’s Splendid Palace cinema running through October 4, French actress Isabelle Huppert takes center stage with a trio of fresh, diverse works, including Asghar Farhadi’s Parallel Stories, Marc Fitoussi’s The Famous Stranger, and Ulrike Ottinger’s The Bloody Countess.
The Bottom Line
- The Festival Hub: Riga’s Splendid Palace is hosting the “Baltic Pearl” festival through October 4, screening brand-new European festival premieres alongside classics.
- The Huppert Showcase: French actress Isabelle Huppert anchors a special triple-feature spotlight with new films directed by Asghar Farhadi, Marc Fitoussi, and Ulrike Ottinger.
- Citywide Culture: The late-September cultural calendar in Riga also features performances by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, concerts by Michelle Gurevich and A$AP Rocky, and theatrical premieres celebrating Mārtiņš Brauns.
A Cinematic Anchor at Splendid Palace
Film lovers gathering in Latvia this autumn have a multi-generational lineup to navigate. The “Baltic Pearl” festival lineup goes beyond contemporary European arthouse entries, weaving cinematic milestones into the capital’s cultural fabric. Alongside Huppert’s newest vehicles, the festival celebrates Italian Luchino Visconti on his 120th anniversary with screenings of Rocco and His Brothers, Death in Venice, and Ludwig. Meanwhile, American actress Marilyn Monroe’s centenary is marked with a special screening of The Seven Year Itch, complemented by Julian Schnabel’s director’s cut of In the Hand of Dante.
To put the scale of current European touring festivals and cultural programming in perspective, consider the following snapshot of this week’s major events across Riga venues:
| Event / Artist | Venue | Date & Time | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isabelle Huppert Spotlight | Splendid Palace | Through Oct 4 | Contemporary European Auteur Cinema |
| LNSO with Kristīna Poska | Rīgas Kongresu nams / Cēsis | Sep 25 (7 PM) / Sep 26 (5 PM) | Classical Orchestral & Violin Solo |
| Michelle Gurevich | Palladium Concert Hall | Sep 24 (9 PM) | Indie Dark Cabaret & Melancholic Pop |
| A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb | Xiaomi Arena | Sep 24 (8 PM) | Global Hip-Hop & Fashion Icon Tour |
Symphonic Grandeur and Indie Melancholy Across Riga
Beyond the silver screen, Riga’s live performance scene is operating this week. The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) is taking over stages in Riga and Cēsis under the baton of principal guest conductor Kristīna Poska. Violinist Baiba Skride takes up the solo part in Sofia Gubaidulina’s Third Violin Concerto, anchoring a program that also features Ilona Breģe’s symphonic tokāta Up-Time—written during her tenure as the LNSO’s 101st season resident composer—and Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony.
But the sonic spectrum across the city stretches far beyond classical halls. Over at Palladium Concert Hall, Canadian singer Michelle Gurevich—formerly known by her moniker Chinawoman—brings her smoky melancholy and melodiousness to local audiences. Gurevich’s live set contrasts sharply with the high-octane spectacle happening elsewhere in the city.
Global Hip-Hop Meets Local Theatrical Heritage
That high-octane spectacle arrives courtesy of A$AP Rocky, who touches down at Xiaomi Arena for his global Don’t Be Dumb tour. As both a streaming powerhouse and a fashion icon, the artist represents the hyper-modern tension of contemporary pop culture.
Meanwhile, the National Theatre shifts the cultural spotlight inward with a poignant theatrical tribute. Meeting Blues (Tikšanās blūzs), directed by Dita Lūriņa, honors composer Mārtiņš Brauns on his 75th birthday. Brauns served as the theater’s musical director from 1975 to 1982, and the new concert-performance features members of the band Sīpoli—including Aivars Gudrais and Raimonds Macats—performing melodies from stage productions such as Cyrano de Bergerac, Albert, Blūzi, and Mowgli.
Down the coast, the Liepāja Theatre is launching its first new production of the season, The Room (Sala), spearheaded by Estonian theatre artist Renāte Kērda. Working in Latvia for the first time, Kērda handles the entire conceptual, dramaturgical, and visual design framework, exploring human existence through her absurdist and compassionate lens.
Whether you are settling in for Huppert’s latest psychological portrait or tracking the international touring circuit, Riga’s autumn culture calendar is running on all cylinders. What are you catching first this week? Drop your festival picks or concert itineraries in the comments below.
