Andrejs Žagars
A graduate from the Latvian Academy of Music and the Film Actors’ Studio. professor in Russian State Institute of Theatre. He began his career as an actor in Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and Russian films. From 1996 to September 2013 Andrejs Žagars held the position ofthe General Director of the Latvian National Opera in Riga, in a short period of time making it thrive.
He has been working as a stage director since 2002, when he prepared The Flying Dutchman by Wagner. In Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Germany, Italy, Austria, China, Slovenia, Hungary, he was a director of numerous performances, including The Demon by Rubinstein, The Queen of Spades, Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Shostakovich, Werther by Massenet, Prince Igor by Borodin, Don Giovanni by Mozart, Rosenkavalier and Salome by Strauss, Betrothal in a Monastery by Prokoffiev, Lohengrin and Tannhäuser by Wagner, as well as operas by Bizet, Donizetti and Verdi.
Žagars established the Riga Opera Festival as an annual cultural event which showcases the best productions of the Latvian National Opera and attracts an international audience.
For his merits in the development of the opera genre in Latvia and its promotion on an international level, as well as for the development of the collaboration between the Latvian National Opera and international cultural institutions, Andrejs Žagars has received several awards, including:
- 2012 State decoration of the Republic of Estonia - the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
- 2011 The Baltic Star International Prize for the development and strengthening of humanitarian links between the countries of the Baltic Region
- 2011 Cross of Officer of the Order for Merits to Lithuania
- 2010 The Order of Friendship given by the President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev for strengthening the culture link between Latvia and Russia
- 2009 The Award of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia for an outstanding contribution to the development of a contemporary, dynamic and internationally competitive Latvian National Opera (Latvia)
- 2008 Spidola Economy Award from the Latvian Economists Association 2010 for popularizing latvian culture abroad, innovative business solutions and successful work at the National Opera for twelve years
- 2006 Officer of the Order of Orange – Nassau
- 2002 The Order of the Three Stars (Republic of Latvia)
- 2001 Commander of the Legion d’Honneur – France