It is likely that more than one person has heard the most famous opera arias during concerts of  classical music, but only a few realized that the creators of operas also left an inexhaustible treasury of operatic choral works. Artistic director and chief conductor of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius, together with the artistic director of the Kaunas State Choir maestro Robert Šervenikas, agreed to present to the audience a never-before-heard, exclusive program of the most beautiful opera choruses. Tonight, you will hear the most beautiful choruses from the incomparable masterpieces written by Giussepe Verdi (1813-1901) “Nabucco”, “Il trovatore”, “Macbeth”, “Rigoletto”, “La forza del destino”, “Don Carlo”, “Aida” and the great operas of Richard Wagner (1813-1883) ” Tannhäuser” and “Lohengrin”.

More than a century ago, the masters of European opera G. Verdi and R. Wagner (who were born in the same year) were often compared as if they were opposites of each other: Italian–German, popular–serious, simple–complex, conservative–radical. Today, however, the distinctiveness, unmistakable character and exciting genius of these two composers harmoniously intertwine not only in the world of opera – we will invite you to enjoy it in tonight’s concert as well.

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This autumn, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra led by its artistic director and chief conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius, invites you to spend time with one of the most prominent Lithuanian sopranos of our day Aušrinė Stundytė, as well as with the extraordinary music of Richard Strauss and Dmitri Shostakovich.

A. Stundytė’s performances do not leave anyone indifferent – both the audience and critics are charmed by the soloist’s professionalism, talent, charisma, and new approach to opera. “I always felt that I wanted to create opera in a different way – I see opera as a very intense and theatrical art form, which is why it always seemed too static to me,” – said the famous soloist.

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Programme
Kremerata Baltica Returns
FERENC LISZT – Malédiction (Curse) for piano and string orchestra, S. 121 / R. 452
MIŁOSZ MAGIN – Stabat Mater for strings and timpani; Concerto Rustico for violin, strings and timpani
GIYA KANCHELI – Valse Boston for violin, piano and strings
FERENC LISZT – Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (piano and string version by Gilles Colliard)

The world-famous Kremerata Baltica orchestra returns to the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall. Founded by Gidon Kremer in 1997, the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra is considered to be, perhaps, the most prominent international orchestra in Europe, also known as the Ambassador of Baltic Culture. Kremer specially selects young, enthusiastic musicians from the Baltic States, resistant to routine, which often affects many professional orchestras. In Kremerata, everyone’s artistic personality and creative approach to music are important. The 23-year-old collective has performed in more than fifty countries, 600 cities, and has given more than 1,000 concerts around the world.

Riga-born violinist Kremer, a performer of unsurpassed mastery and a personality of original creativity, is especially valued for his uniqueness, daily quest for new expression and interpretation possibilities. During the long years of his concert career, Kremer has performed in almost all main halls with the most famous European and American orchestras, conducted by L. Bernstein, H. von Karajan, Ch. Eschenbach, N. Harnoncourt, L. Maazel, R. Muti, Z. Mehta, J. Levin, V. Gergiev, C. Abbado, Sir N. Marriner, and others. The extremely long and varied list of works the violinist has mastered includes all the standards of the classical and romantic repertoire, 20th century masterpieces and the latest compositions. Kremer is the first performer of many works (often dedicated to him) by contemporary Russian and Eastern European composers.

Tonight the orchestra shares the stage with French pianist Alexandre Kantorow, born in the year of the formation of Kremerata Baltica. The young performer has been dubbed the “Liszt reincarnated” (Fanfare), a “fire-breathing virtuoso with a poetic charm” (Gramophone). In 2019, the critics called him the Discovery of the Year. Kantorow’s greatest achievement is his victory at last year’s International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow: he won the first prize, gold medal and Grand Prix, becoming the first French pianist to win this competition. Kantorow has appeared in concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Paris Philharmonic, the Bozar in Brussels and many prestigious festivals.

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Guoda Gedvilaitė, one of the most prominent Lithuanian pianists, has been giving concerts for 30 years. For her anniversary performances in Lithuania, she has designed an autobiographical programme, which she describes as follows: “The programme features Beethoven’s Bagatelles from my study years in Vilnius, a symbolic Farewell sonata via which I visit the years when I said goodbye to my home and went to study in Frankfurt – the sonata projects sadness, and the joy of return and meeting again. I am very happy with this year’s birthday present: composer Loreta Narvilaitė wrote a work for me Sound Speaks into Silence. The opus is written in the key of G (my name initial) and opens with the folk song Anoj pusėj Nemuno (On the Other Side of Nemunas River). According to the composer, although I grew up on the bank of Nemunas river, in her mind I live “on the other side”.

The pianist has, of course, included Clara Schumann’s opuses in her autobiographical programme – in recent years Gedvilaitė has been ardently fostering the legacy of this talented and modern personality of the 19th century: organises Clara Shuman Salon, in which she performs solo, and also teams up with friends and colleagues.

The programme will also reflect the pianist’s another fascination – her own arrangements of works by various well-known Lithuanian and foreign composers. The highlight of the concert – Piano quintet in C major by Nikolai Medtner, an extremely rarely programmed composer active in the beginning of the 20th century and dubbed music hermit. In this opus, Gedvilaitė collaborates with the Čiurlionis Quartet. Occupying a special place in Medtner’s oeuvre, this opus combines the uniqueness of inspiration and an extraordinary mastery of composition. It is a synthesis of the composer’s entire life, a work he worked on for many years. It was published only after the composer’s death.

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