European Classics and Lithuanian Visions | Milda Marija Kiškūnaitė (Piano)

This programme invites listeners into a musical dialogue between the European classical tradition and the distinctive creative visions of Lithuanian composers. The works, spanning different musical periods and styles, are united by a search for musical expression. In the works of great European classical composers, we find clarity and structure, while the Lithuanian visions reveal individual expression, experimentation and a unique sound world.

J. S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor from Book II of The Well-Tempered Clavier reveals the depth of polyphonic thought, the ongoing dialogue between voices and the inner harmony of musical structure. L. van Beethoven’s sonata enriches this tradition with drama, vibrant youthful energy and contrasting shifts in character.

Vytautas Bacevičius’s “Premier mot” (“The First Word”) opens the door to a distinctive musical world filled with inner freedom and creative exploration. Bacevičius’s work brings together modern ideas and an individual, unique artistic vision. His music pushes beyond established formal boundaries, seeking new sonic colours and unexpected harmonies.

M. K. Čiurlionis and M. Ravel are connected not only by sharing the same birth year – 1875 – but also by their distinctive approaches to musical expression. Čiurlionis’s prelude invites listeners into a more intimate, poetic musical space, while Ravel’s Toccata stands out for its clarity, vibrant energy and rhythmic precision.

This journey through different musical eras reveals an exceptionally broad spectrum of musical imagination. We travel from tradition to individual expression, from clearly defined forms to new…