A bird's life begins with a sound. It becomes the first landmark in the world before sight awakens. Baby songbirds learn songs from adult birds - they listen and try to imitate them. When a songbird sings, it risks its life because it wants to be heard and seen. Once a young migratory bird has hatched, it feels it has to fly. It has an innate sense of direction, but it has no idea what its destination and journey will be. A migratory bird will always be able to find its way to the place where it hatched.
The University of Latvia Mixed Choir "Dziesmuvara" together with composer Evija Skuķe, director Liena Šmukste and playwright Didzis Ruicēns have created a soundscape about a migratory bird's first flight into the unknown - "To the West". The world premiere of the soundscape will take place on 9 February at 12.00 at the Ģertrūdes iela Theatre. The audience will experience the performance with their eyes closed.
In 2025, the University of Latvia Mixed Choir "Dziesmuvara" celebrates its 100th anniversary. The soundscape "To the West" is the choir's tribute to those Songmuvares who had to leave Latvia, go as refugees or go into exile in Siberia during the turmoil of the Second World War. Most of the song-makers of that time met again in exile. And although, like migratory birds, the songs did not sound the same abroad as at home, they continued to sing.