Voices of Resilience: From the Baltic to the Black Sea | Angelina Gadeliya (Piano, Ukraine–USA)

The piano recital “Voices of Resilience: From the Baltic to the Black Sea,” performed by Ukrainian-American pianist Angelina Gadeliya, invites audiences on a musical journey connecting the cultural experiences of the Baltic and Black Sea regions.

The programme brings together works by composers from different generations and aesthetic traditions, ranging from the music of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, a major figure in early twentieth-century Lithuanian music, to that of contemporary Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stetsiuk. A particularly prominent place in the programme is given to the music of Ukrainian composers Valentin Silvestrov and Sergei Bortkiewicz. The programme’s broader geographical and historical perspective is further enriched by the music of Vytautas Bacevičius and works by Frédéric Chopin, revealing the wider musical context of Eastern and Central Europe.

The recital will feature Silvestrov’s Kitsch-Musik; four D-minor Preludes by Čiurlionis; Stetsiuk’s Serenade; selected works from Bortkiewicz’s cycle Crimean Sketches, Op. 8; Bacevičius’s Poème No. 4, Op. 10; as well as Chopin’s mazurkas, Rondo à la Mazur, Nocturne, and Ballade No. 4. Together, these works unfold a multifaceted spectrum of musical expression—from lyrical intimacy and echoes of national musical traditions to dramatic tension, irony, and existential unease.

Angelina Gadeliya is distinguished by her rich, resonant sound and her ability, as critics have noted, to “make the music speak.” Her artistic work encompasses solo and chamber music, the promotion of contemporary repertoire, and pedagogical activities. She has performed on prestigious stages across North America, Europe, and Asia, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, as well as other leading concert venues. An active advocate of contemporary music, Gadeliya has given numerous world and regional premieres and has collaborated with prominent composers of our time.

In her Vilnius recital, contrasting historical experiences and distinct musical worlds converge through the shared themes of human resilience, memory, and creative freedom. Voices of Resilience is ultimately a reflection on the capacity of culture to endure, to speak, and to remain alive even in the face of the most challenging historical circumstances.