Vilnius Spring Festival
This May, for the second time, the Vilnius Spring Festival, organized by the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, will take place at the National Gallery of Art – a bold, modern, and open musical project that fuses classical tradition with the pulse of the present.
Spanning four Thursday evenings in May, the festival invites audiences to experience unique performances – from the latest in Baltic percussion music to original premieres and bold jazz experiments. Vilnius Spring Festival not only marks the arrival of spring in the city but also redefines classical music as unexpected, alive, and dialogical.
“This year’s festival will spotlight music and performers from the Baltic region. For the first time in Lithuania, we will present a concert by the percussion ensemble Baltic Percussion Trio. A unique program was prepared specially for the festival by one of the finest Baltic chamber orchestras – Sinfonietta Rīga – and rising violinist Daniil Bulayev. We will also host a celebratory evening for the renowned composer Algirdas Martinaitis, and present the latest jazz-classical fusion by the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra and the Dainius Pulauskas Trio. The right bank of the Neris River will be bursting with new impressions, musical premieres, incredible performers, and artistic experiences,” says festival director Nerijus Masevičius.
The 2025 program features a strong Baltic focus – showcasing exceptional ensembles and artists from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, such as the internationally acclaimed Sinfonietta Rīga and the masters of percussion artistry, the Baltic Percussion Trio. This musical dialogue among neighboring countries reflects not only geographical proximity but a rich cultural connection that adds a broader sonic and conceptual layer to the festival.
The 2025 Vilnius Spring Festival will open on May 8 with a concert by the Baltic Percussion Trio, performing in Lithuania for the very first time. The trio – comprised of Andrius Rekašius (Lithuania), Guntars Freibergs (Latvia), and Heigo Rosin (Estonia) – will present original works by Baltic composers.
On May 15, Grammy Award-winning Sinfonietta Rīga and young violin virtuoso Daniil Bulayev will take the stage with a special program created exclusively for Vilnius Spring Festival. The concert will feature works by well-known Baltic composers, conducted by the charismatic Guntis Kuzma.
On May 22, the festival will host a special concert celebrating the 75th anniversary of composer Algirdas Martinaitis, featuring his most acclaimed works along with two world premieres. This exceptional program will be performed by the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Rūta Lipinaitytė (violin), Indrė Baikštytė (piano), and other prominent Lithuanian soloists.
The grand finale on May 29 will feature a collaborative performance by the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra and legendary jazz composer Dainius Pulauskas. The Dainius Pulauskas Trio will meet the orchestra on stage for a sonic celebration where jazz flirts with classical. A brand-new program composed specifically for this event by Dainius Pulauskas will premiere at this concert.
“The collaboration between the Dainius Pulauskas Trio and the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra is a rare fusion of jazz and classical ensembles. Projects of this scale and complexity are not everyday occurrences in our cultural landscape,” says Dainius Pulauskas, inviting audiences to this unique performance.
Vilnius Spring Festival is an open invitation to a musical dialogue between eras, genres, and creative visions.
More info: springfestival.lt
