The  representatives of cultural and social life, the representatives of Riga diplomatic corps, the members of Latvian-Czech society, the students of Latvian University, opera singers, students of the Latvian Music Academy and all those who wanted to get acquainted with the life of Soňa Červená, the Czech opera singer, actress and exceptional woman, attended the screening of the Czech Lion award-winning film. Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Ojārs Spārītīs, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Mr. Alberts Sarkanis, former Latvia's Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Mr. Igors Šuvajevs, the Professor of Latvian University, Mrs. Ilze Rimicāne, co-ordinator of the ICEFA Lidice Project in Latvia, Mrs. Gita Umanovska, the Executive Director of the Jewish Community, and famous Latvian actor Mr. Gunārs Placēns.

The screening of the film Červená (with English subtitles and simultaneous translation into Latvian) was opened by Mr. Miroslav Kosek, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Latvia, director Olga Sommerová and Mrs. Soňa Červená. The guests could follow the fascinated life story of Soňa Červená, her first engagement with Jiří Voskovec and Jiří Werich, the emigration from Czechoslovakia, singing and acting successes on the world stages of several continents, the return to her homeland and her extensive acting activities at the present time. The final captions were awarded by long standing applause. The film was translated into Latvian by Mrs. Nadežda Kopoloveca, and Mrs. Halina Lapiņa simultaneously translated it into Latvian.

The subsequent friendly and informal discussion with Mrs. Soňa Červená and director Olga Sommerová at the Embassy of the Republic of Riga touched not only the personality of Mrs. Soňa Červená and her acting and singing achievements and the film itself, but also the similar fate of the Baltic republics and Czechoslovakia in the 20th century. The meeting with both exceptional ladies continued till the very night.

The screening of the Czech Lion award-winning film as well as the debate with Soňa Červená and Olga Sommerová met the great interest of the Latvian public. The screening was attended by about 180 spectators, and 80 guests attended the discussions at the embassy. On October 16, the Latvian radio station Latvian Radio 4 broadcast an interview with Soňa Červená and Olga Sommerová by the reporter Valentina Artjomenko (http://lr4.lsm.lv/lv/raksts/otkritiy-vopros/jenschina-v-biznese-pravilo-ili- isklyuchenie.a110008), and the Latvian newspaper Latvijas avīze at the same day published the article Stāst par dziedātāju un diviem režīmiem (The story of the singer and two regimes, http://www.la.lv/stasts-par-dziedataju-un- diviem-režim) by the journalist Viesturs Sprūde.

We appreciate the opportunity to introduce such significant Czech personalities to Latvian guests. Thank you.