State Choir LATVIJA records the soundtrack for film “The American Miracle”
From November 16 to 22, the American motion picture studio “Heroic Pictures” will be recording the soundtrack for its new feature film, “The American Miracle,” composed by Lolita Ritmanis, in Rīga and Liepāja, Latvia. The film’s executive producer and COO of “Heroic Pictures,” Ralf Augstroze, has enlisted the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, to be conducted by the composer herself, and the internationally renowned Latvian National Choir “Latvija” (State Choir LATVIJA) under the direction of Māris Sirmais, for the soundtrack. The recording sessions will take place in the “Great Amber” (Lielais dzintars) in concert hall in Liepāja and at Latvian Radio Studio 1 in Rīga.
“This is the fulfillment of a 35-year dream—recording the symphonic soundtrack of a major film in Latvia is an indescribable privilege and an emotional milestone for me, and doing it specifically in Liepāja holds even deeper personal significance,” says Ralf Augstroze, noting that Liepāja is his mother’s birthplace and childhood city, while his daughter, Lija Aleksandra Hanzovska, is currently a first violinist in the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra.
“I’ve already worked on several significant projects with Latvian choirs, orchestras, and musicians,” says Lolita Ritmanis. “Among those was my music for the notable Latvian feature film “Blizzard of Souls” (Dvēseļu Putenis). It’s a great honor and joy that Ralf asked me to compose the soundtrack for this new American feature film and record it with some of the world’s best musicians!”
“The American Miracle” was filmed in multiple locations in the United States and the United Kingdom. It chronicles the American Founding era from the 1750s to 1826, highlighting numerous potentially disastrous and seemingly impossible scenarios that took fortuitous, miraculous turns to secure America’s independence from the world’s then-strongest military, England. Most of America’s founders saw these events as miraculous and believed in the “Divine Hand of Providence,” as described by General and first U.S. President George Washington. “The American Miracle” is based on a book of the same name by American bestselling author Michael Medved and is set for release next summer, one year ahead of the celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary, which will take place in 2026.
“It’s thrilling to work professionally with Lolita for the first time, someone I’ve known for several decades. She brings her unique creative musical talents to this significant project marking the 250th anniversary of the United States,” says Augstroze. “Both Lolita and I hope that this effort will foster more frequent collaboration between Hollywood and Latvia’s exceptionally talented musicians—a connection I first dreamed of establishing 35 years ago. God willing, Lolita and I will be catalysts to make this dream a reality.”
Joining Augstroze and Ritmanis at the recording sessions will be the film’s other executive producers Douglas Maddox and Timothy Mahoney, who also directed the movie, as well as Mahoney’s wife, Jill Mahoney—all visiting Latvia for the first time—as well as Lolita Ritmanis’ husband, recording engineer and music producer Mark Mattson.
