CHRISTOPHER FESTIVAL | DONATAS MONTVYDAS AND VILNIUS VOICES

DONATAS MONTVYDAS (vocals)
Vocalists group VILNIUS VOICES
Leader KRISTINA ŽALDOKAITĖ

What do Donatas Montvydas and Vilnius Voices have in common? Eurovision is only half of the answer. Even before it and all its lighting, screens and thousand-strong crowds, there was gospel music. And that’s precisely where all that we enjoy today began.

Donatas Montvydas moves audiences with his high tension appearances that take us beyond the imagination. Vilnius Voices stand out for their vocal architecture, the clarity of their sound and harmony. Donatas is used to being at the centre of attention. Vilnius Voices seek to create a shared harmony. But at this concert their differences serve as an advantage – a performance where the most important question is not “what” will be heard, but “how” will it sound.

“Beginning my journey onto the stage from gospel music, I still feel how real and how powerful it is. It’s no accident that this programme includes Oh Happy Day – a symbolic work that reminds me why I chose music in the first place. Besides it I will of course be performing my original songs, from the very first ones to the latest releases. But they’ll sound a little different than usual. In collaboration with Vilnius Voices, we looked for a sound that would not be louder but stronger – one that is born of trust and a shared energy. When it all comes together like that, music does indeed unite people”, says Donatas.

This is also perfectly illustrated in Kristina Žaldokaitė’s recollections: “We share a friendship that has lasted more than twenty years. Once upon a time, Donatas’ singing teacher Rosita Čivilytė brought him to a rehearsal of my collective where we sang the legendary gospel tune Oh Happy Day. From the very first sounds it was clear that musically speaking, we were on the same track. That friendship continues to this day – and Oh Happy Day sounds more powerful than ever before at our joint concerts”.

Sometimes, one song can create history. This evening it will be coming back with new force. Are you ready?

Programme features music by Donatas Montvydas, Philip Doddridge, Edward Hawkins and others

Buy tickets here