1429) The First Latvian Opera - "Banuta", Latvia: Centenary Celebrations of the popular symbol of Latvian classical music (1920-2020): A postage stamp of 1.00 Euro, brought out by Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post): Date of Stamp issue: 03.07.2020:
On 03.07.2020, Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post) has brought our a new postage stamp in honour of the Opera "Banuta" staged by composer Alfreds Kalnins (1879-1951), on the 100th Anniversary of its premiere at the Latvian National Opera on 28.05.2020. "Banuta" is considered to be a symbol of Latvian classical music.
"Banuta" is a four-act three-hour mixture of 13th Century fact and myth. The protagonists are brave and blood-thirsty, the lovers star-crossed.
"Banuta" is a four-act three-hour mixture of 13th Century fact and myth. The protagonists are brave and blood-thirsty, the lovers star-crossed.
The First Day Cover (FDC) features the Opera Hall at left, where the Opera "Banuta" was first performed in 1920.
At top right is affived the postage stamp of 1.00 Euro featuring a scene from the Opera "Banuta". The special Cancellation Handstamp is of Riga Post Office and is dated - "03.07.2020".
A postage stamp of 1.00 Euro depicting the Opera "Banuta".
At top right is affived the postage stamp of 1.00 Euro featuring a scene from the Opera "Banuta". The special Cancellation Handstamp is of Riga Post Office and is dated - "03.07.2020".
In the visual presentation of the stamp and the First Day Cover, the designer has used a reproduction of the scenic design "Valgusa pils" (Valgudis Castle - 1940) created by the set designer Janis Kuga for the Opera "Banuta" (1920) kept in the archives of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet and materials from the Misins Library of the Academic Library of the University of Latvia.
Banuta is the first Latvian National Opera, created more than 100 years ago by composer Alfreds Kalnins based on a libretto composed in 1903 by architect and writer Arturs Krumins (1879-1969).
A Full Sheet (FS) of 10 stamps of 1.00 Euro each.
Alfreds Bruno Janis Kalnins (23.08.1879 - 23.12.1951):
He was a Latvian composer, organist, pedagogue, music critic and conductor, and was the founder of Latvia's National Opera "Banuta" (in 1920).
He was a prolific composer, who wrote hundreds of songs, both for solo voice with piano accompaniment and for choir. Of his six cantatas, the best known is "Jura" (meaning "The Sea").
In 1918, Kalnins started working on his most famous piece of music - the Opera "Banuta", which went into a premiere in 1920 in Riga. It is the first opera with a libretto in Latvian.
When Kalnins lived in New York, he rewrote a big part of its music. This version of the Opera was performed for the first time in 1937.
In 1940, under Soviet Rule, Kalnins had to change the end of the opera. In the original version, the principal protagonist - Banuta - and her lover Vizuts commit suicide, but now the opera got a happy ending. This version has not been performed since.
On 05.06.1982, the opera was performed for the first time in the West, in New York. This production was based on the 1937 version.
The opera has always remained popular, particularly in Latvia and is still performed from time to time. Kalnin's second opera "Salinieki" ("The Island Dwellers") produced in 1926 is lesser known. He also composed a ballet "Staburags" (an orchestral suite and pieces for organ and piano).
Technical Details:
Stamp issue date: 03.07.2020
Designer: Lilija Dinere
Printer: Baltijas Banknote Latvija
Stamp value: 1.00 Euro (which corresponds to postage of letter-post items in the weight class up to 20 grams within Latvia
No. of stamps printed: 50,000 pieces
First Day Covers printed: 1,000 copies
Banuta is the first Latvian National Opera, created more than 100 years ago by composer Alfreds Kalnins based on a libretto composed in 1903 by architect and writer Arturs Krumins (1879-1969).
Alfreds Bruno Janis Kalnins (23.08.1879 - 23.12.1951):
He was a Latvian composer, organist, pedagogue, music critic and conductor, and was the founder of Latvia's National Opera "Banuta" (in 1920).
He was a prolific composer, who wrote hundreds of songs, both for solo voice with piano accompaniment and for choir. Of his six cantatas, the best known is "Jura" (meaning "The Sea").
In 1918, Kalnins started working on his most famous piece of music - the Opera "Banuta", which went into a premiere in 1920 in Riga. It is the first opera with a libretto in Latvian.
When Kalnins lived in New York, he rewrote a big part of its music. This version of the Opera was performed for the first time in 1937.
In 1940, under Soviet Rule, Kalnins had to change the end of the opera. In the original version, the principal protagonist - Banuta - and her lover Vizuts commit suicide, but now the opera got a happy ending. This version has not been performed since.
On 05.06.1982, the opera was performed for the first time in the West, in New York. This production was based on the 1937 version.
The opera has always remained popular, particularly in Latvia and is still performed from time to time. Kalnin's second opera "Salinieki" ("The Island Dwellers") produced in 1926 is lesser known. He also composed a ballet "Staburags" (an orchestral suite and pieces for organ and piano).
Technical Details:
Stamp issue date: 03.07.2020
Designer: Lilija Dinere
Printer: Baltijas Banknote Latvija
Stamp value: 1.00 Euro (which corresponds to postage of letter-post items in the weight class up to 20 grams within Latvia
No. of stamps printed: 50,000 pieces
First Day Covers printed: 1,000 copies
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