Concert „Sounds of Vilnius“

On September 14 at 6:00 PM, Vilnius Shalom Festival invites you to the Samuel Bak Museum, where the Polish ensemble YAEL will present the musical program “Sounds of Vilnius” – a moving tribute to the cultural and musical heritage of the Litvaks. The concert will feature music by Litvak composers, Yiddish songs, and contemporary interpretations that evoke the atmosphere of Vilnius, once vibrant with Jewish life.

The YAEL project was initiated by Anna Woźnicka, an artist who has been involved with Jewish musical culture for many years. One of its core ideas was to create an artistic space where Jewish music could be brought into dialogue with traditional sounds and musical traditions from other cultures.

To achieve this goal, YAEL brings together musicians who specialize primarily in ethnic music and are open to improvisation and musical experimentation. At the same time, the ensemble draws on the rich repertoire of synagogue music and collaborates with artists whose backgrounds lie in the classical music tradition.

• Anna Woźnicka – soprano 
• Anita Szwacińska – mezzo-soprano 
• Bartosz Szwaciński – tenor 
• Piotr Łapiński – bass-baritone 
• Wojciech Świętoński – piano

Sounds of Vilnius: Music of the Former Jerushalayim de-Lite

A Vocal Concert Dedicated to the Synagogue Tradition of Vilnius

The project Sounds of Vilnius: Music of the Former Jerushalayim de-Lite is an artistic journey into the world of Jewish Vilnius – once known as the “Jerusalem of Lithuania” (Jerushalayim de-Lite), the spiritual capital of Eastern European Jewry. The synagogues of Vilnius, especially the Choral Synagogue, were not only places of prayer but also vibrant centres of musical, artistic, and communal life. It was there that music combining Jewish liturgy, choral harmony, and distinctive accompaniment was created and performed – a hallmark of the Reform Jewish tradition in Central and Eastern Europe.

The programme features works by outstanding composers and cantors associated with Vilnius.

Admission is free. Registration is required HERE.