Professor, Opera Singing Class

Viesturs Gailis is a symphony orchestra conducting professor at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, the head of Opera Class and the artistic director of JVLMA Opera Studio “Figaro”. He has organized several production of forgotten Latvian operas: “Lolita’s Wonderbird” and “Hamlet” by Jānis Kalniņš (at Bauska Castle ruins in 2004), “Gunda” by Ādams Ore, abbreviated version of “Vaidelote” by Jānis Mediņš, “Cephalus und Prokris” by Franz Adam Veichtner, amongst others. In spring 2014 in frames of Latvian Student Theatre Days the production of excerpts from Rodion Schedrin’s opera “Not Love Alone” by Viesturs Gailis and Uģis Brikmanis received a special award for a challenge to Latvian professional musical theatre.

In 2013 a production of Ottorino Respighi’s “Maria egiziaca” by Viesturs Gailis at St. Peter’s Church Festival “Dominante” was nominated for the Latvian Great Music Award as the Best Production of 2013. Viesturs Gailis has been a conductor of the Latvian National Opera (1984-1994), artistic director and chief conductor of the LNO (1991-1994), conductor of Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (1998-2000). He was the leader of the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Latvia, the women’s choir “Minjona”, and the chief conductor of the Latvian Nationwide Song Festivals XXI and XXII. He is a prizewinner of international competitions. Viesturs Gailis studied at JVLMA, as well as in Saint Petersburg with Mariss Jansons, and in Vienna University of Music with Karl Osterreicher. He has appeared with various orchestras in Austria, Lithuania, Finland, Hungary and Germany.