Other events in Baltic States

The first metal opera is being staged in Latvia with participation of Latvian folk metal band Skyforger.

The opera "Kurbads. The Son of The Mare" is based on the Latvian legend about Kurbads, a mythical hero dealing with different challenges, and will be shown the first and only time on the open-air stage at the lakeside in Limbazi, north eastern Latvia, on June 3 this year, said the promoters, Story Hub.

The project has been included in the 2017 program of Latvia's centenary to be celebrated next year. It is the first major production based on the legend about Kurbads and will make use of the forces of nature - fire and water - as well as the 21st century technologies.

Peteris Kvetkovskis, the lead singer of Skyforger, said that the band's album, Kurbads, had been inspired by the ancient legend. He said the band had wanted to preserve this heritage in the era when no legends were being made and hardly anyone read them therefore they had made the album and had been very enthusiastic about the idea when the producers approached them about making the metal opera.

The opera will be directed by Inga Tropa, who said Kurbads was a hero who did not stop at his first success but courageously pushed on to face more battles and explore the depths of his soul. "Kurbads is inspiring us to everlasting development in fighting external enemies and the beasts within ourselves - things we don't know or choose to ignore about ourselves," she said.