Vētra Mariss (1901 - 1965), singer, writer

Singer and writer Vētra Mariss (until 1922 in the real name Morics Blumbergs) was born on July 19, 1901 in the farm family of Dārta manor in Tirza parish.

Studied at Riga 2nd City Gymnasium. 1918 participated in the Freedom Fights. Studied philosophy at the University of Latvia, economics at the universities of Frankfurt and Berlin. After graduating from the Latvian Conservatory, he studied in Italy. He was a soloist of the Liepaja and National Opera. For some seasons and guest performances he has sung in operas in Germany and other countries. 1944 emigrated to Sweden in 1946. went to Helifex in Canada, where he worked as a conservatory teacher. 1953 founded his studio in Toronto. He was the founder and conductor of the Nova Scotia Opera Company and the first head of the Latvian National Association of Canada.

He has also worked in journalism. He has published reviews of music life in the Latvian press since the 1920s. The first literary publication - a description of the trip in "Pompeii" in the newspaper "Latvijas Vēstnesis" (1925). He has written autobiographical books "Div 'dūjiņas", "Mans baltais nams", "Karaļa viesi", "Rīga toreiz…" and "Sestā kolonna". They contain valuable cultural-historical reference material, presented in a light, witty narrative.

He died on December 24, 1965 in Toronto, Canada, and was buried in the Toronto Latvian Cemetery.

The list of information source can be found here .