“The 28th Vilnius festival “Mission Possible” aims to reflect the historical musical culture and its modern interpretations. Composers and performers have always stood out for their special insight and creative reaction to the challenges faced by individuals, society and the state, and were able to capture and immortalize significant historical events with musical signs.
The Vilnius Festival will reveal to its listeners a number of historical and contemporary scores that reflect the struggle of enslaved nations for the freedom of citizens and faith, the hope to create democratic states (Krzysztof Penderecki’s “Čakona” from “Polish Requiem”, Arvo Pärt’s “Credo”, Osvalds Balakauskas’ “Requiem in memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis”), spiritual resurrection after experienced personal dramas (Ludwig van Beethoven’s sonata for piano “Hammerklavier”, Mieczysław Weinberg’s concerto for cello and orchestra, Richard Strauss’ “The Life of a Hero”, Antanas Rekašius’ “Music for Strings”) or even the five centuries of music of the kings of England the story of glorification (the program “Long live the king!” by the ensemble “The King’s Singers”)”, its director Rūta Prusevičienė introduced the festival.
At the opening concert of the festival, almost the most relevant song of the moment will sound – the pipe of hope. All June 2 the pieces played will be connected by the leitmotif of faith and peace, which is symbolically understood not only in the concert program (K. Penderecki, M. Weinberg, L. van Beethoven, A. Pärt), but also in the name of the concert “Credo in pace” – I believe in peace. Kaunas State Choir, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, pianist Dmitri Levkovichius and conductor Robert Šerveniks will open the festival with its loyal flagship LNSO.
June 5 in the “Mission Possible” concert, the audience will be able to meet stage celebrity Marc-André Hamelin, whom The New York Times called “a performer of almost superhuman technical prowess”. The pianist will perform a program of works by L. van Beethoven, R. Schumann and M. Ravel. Another piano star will shine on June 7. at the concert – the program “Three heroes: Wagner, Liszt, Strauss” will be performed by the Israeli pianist Yoav Levanon and the charming French conductor Victorien Vanoosten with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.
Continuously nurturing the beautiful relations between Lithuania and Ukraine, on June 9 in the concert “Lithuania meets Ukraine” we will hear the Vilnius State Quartet and the Quartet of Ukrainian soloists. “At the festival, a significant partnership of artists of various generations will unfold: the Vilnius State Quartet and the Ukrainian Quartet of Young Soloists will present the works of Osvaldas Balakauskas and his teacher, Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshinsky,” says R. Prusevičienė.
The Royal Dignity Festival will take place on June 11. The King’s Singers, a vocal sextet, will take the stage. The ensemble, recognized as a leader in a cappella singing for more than five decades, will perform its latest program, “Long Live the King!”
In keeping with the festival’s tradition of celebrating June 14, on the eve of the Day of Mourning and Hope, June 13, Osvalds Balakauskas’ “Requiem in memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis” will be symbolically performed by a large group of Lithuanian performers.
Another tradition of the festival is to present a program of early music, this year on June 16. will be continued by the ensemble from Italy “Il Giardino Armonico” with soloists Giovanni Antonini and Giovanni Sollima. “In Vilnius, for the first time, a joint program of this Italian baroque orchestra and one of the most famous Italian composers and cellists of today, Giovanni Sollima, will be performed”, emphasizes the head of the festival.
Lithuanian chamber orchestra led by violin virtuoso Sergejaus Krylovs with pianist Anna Geniušien on June 19. will present a music program of Lithuanian and Austrian composers specially prepared for the festival “New Sound of Masterpieces”. And the festival with LNSO conducted by Modesto Pitrėnas on June 21. the prominent American baritone Thomas Hampson, who is returning to the Philharmonic stage, will be the crowning act. Having charmed our country’s audience at the 2022 festival, when he performed Gustav Mahler’s music with the National Orchestra, this time Th. Hampson organizes an impressive musical fiesta, as evidenced by the incredibly colorful concert program, from WA Mozart to C. Porter.
“June 2-21 World-renowned masters of the art of music will perform on the stage of the National Philharmonic: pianist Marc-André Hamelin, baritone Thomas Hampson, conductors Victorien Vanoosten, Modest Pitrėnas, Robert Šervenik, violinist Sergejs Krylov, flutist Giovanni Antonini and a whole constellation of bright talents of the young generation: British cellist Sheku Kanneh- Mason, Ukrainian pianist Dmitrijus Levkovichius, Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Gabrielė Kupšytė, rising piano star from Israel Yoav Levanon, newly formed vocal ensemble “The King’s Singers”. Traditionally, the festival will be attended by a large number of Lithuanian music collectives”, R. Prusevičienė introduces the participants of the festival and wishes everyone attending the concerts: “May all the meetings and musical experiences of the festival enrich and strengthen – the mission is possible!”
The organizers of the festival – the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, VšĮ “Vilniaus festivaliai” and Vilnius city municipality – invite you from June 2 to 21. to meet at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. All concerts of the 28th Vilnius Festival are published on the website www.filharmonija.lt. More information about the festival – vilniusfestival.lt. May 7-14 20% applies to festival concert tickets. discount (except lowest fare tickets) – buy tickets at more favorable prices!
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VILNIUS FESTIVAL 2024
Mission possible
in 2024 June 2-21 / Lithuanian National Philharmonic
THE PROGRAM
Sunday, June 2, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
Credo in pace. LNSO, Robertas Šerveniks, Kaunas State Choir, soloists”
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and chief conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
KAUNAS STATE CHOIR
(art director and chief conductor Robertas Šerveniks
Soloists: SHEKU KANNEH-MASON (cello, United Kingdom)
DMITRI LEVKOVICH (piano; Ukraine, Canada)
Conductor ROBERTAS ŠERVENIKS
Program: KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI – Chaconne from “Polish Requiem” for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra; MIECZYSŁAW WEINBERG – Concerto for cello and orchestra in C minor, Op. 43; LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Choral Fantasy for Piano, Choir and Orchestra, Op. 80; ARVO PÄRT – Credo for piano, mixed choir and orchestra
Tickets – 31, 41, 51, 61 EUR
Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Mission possible. Marc-André Hamelin interprets Beethoven, Schumann and Ravel”
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN (piano, Canada)
Program: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 106, B flat major (Große Sonata für das Hammerklavier); ROBERT SCHUMANN – “Forest Scenes”, op. 82 (“Waldszenen”); MAURICE RAVEL – “Gaspard of the Night”, M. 55 (“Gaspard de la nuit”)
Tickets – 21, 31, 41, 51 EUR
Friday, June 7, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Three heroes: Wagner, Liszt, Strauss. LNSO, Victorien Vanoosten, Yoav Levanon”
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and chief conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloist YOAV LEVANON (piano, Israel)
Conductor VICTORIEN VANOOSTEN (France)
Program: RICHARD WAGNER – Overture to the opera “Parsifal”; FERENC LISZT – Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 1 in E flat major, S. 124; RICHARD STRAUSS – Symphonic poem “The Life of a Hero”, Op. 40 (“Ein Heldenleben”)
Tickets – 31, 41, 51, 61 EUR
Sunday, June 9, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Lithuania accepts Ukraine. Vilnius Quartet, Quartet of Ukrainian Soloists”
VILNIUS STATE QUARTET: DALIA KUZNECOVAITĖ (violin), ALGIRDAS ŠOCHAS (violin), KRISTINA ANUSEVIČIŹĖ (viola), VIKTOR REKALO (cello)
UKRAINIAN SOLOIST QUARTET: DMYTRO UDOVYCHENKO (violin), VALERYI SOKOLOV (violin), NATALIIA KULEBA (viola), OLEKSYI SHADRIN (cello)
Program: BORIS LYATOSHINSKY – String Quartet No. 2, Op. 4, A major; OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS – String Quartet No. 3; FELIX MENDELSSOHN – String Octet, Op. 20, E flat major
Tickets – 21, 31, 41 EUR
Tuesday, June 11, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Long live the king!” “King’s Singers” in Vilnius”
Vocal sextet THE KING’S SINGERS (United Kingdom):
PATRICK DUNACHIE (first countertenor), EDWARD BUTTON (second countertenor), JULIAN GREGORY (tenor), CHRISTOPHER BRUERTON (first baritone), NICK ASHBY (second baritone), JONATHAN HOWARD (bass)
The program includes choral works by English composers from various periods for various celebrations and ceremonies of the British monarchy
Tickets – 31, 41, 51, 61 EUR
Thursday, June 13, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Requiem in memory of Stasios Lozoraitis. St. Kristoforos Orchestra, “Jauna muzika”, Modestas Barkauskas, Gabrielė Kupšytė”
Vilnius city municipality NE. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and chief conductor Modestas Barkauskas)
Vilnius City Municipality Choir YOUNG MUSIC (artistic director and conductor Vaclov Augustinas)
Soloist GABRIELĖ KUPŠYTĖ (mezzo-soprano)
Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Program: OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS – “Requiem in memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis” (liturgical text)
Entrance is free
Sunday, June 16, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“Garden of Harmony. Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini, Giovanni Sollima
Ensemble IL GIARDINO ARMONICO (Italy)
Artistic Director, Soloist and Conductor GIOVANNI ANTONINI (salamaya, longitudinal flute; Italy)
Soloist GIOVANNI SOLLIMA (cello, Italy)
Program: DOMENICO SARRO – Concerto in A minor for flute, strings and basso continuo; LEONARDO LEO – Concerto in D minor for cello, strings and basso continuo, L. 60; LUIGI BOCCHERINI – “Night music in Madrid” (“La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid”) for strings, G. 324; GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN – Concerto in D minor for two chalamayas, strings and basso continuo, TWV 52:d1; ANTONIO VIVALDI – Concerto in A minor for cello, strings and basso continuo, RV 420; GIOVANNI SOLLIMA – “Passa Calle XXI” for two salamayas, cello, strings and basso continuo (2021 version)
Tickets – 21, 31, 41, 51 EUR
Wednesday, June 19, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“The new sound of masterpieces. LKO, Sergej Krylov, Anna Geniušienė”
LITHUANIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic director, soloist and conductor SERGEJ KRYLOV (violin)
Soloist ANNA GENIUSHIENĖ (piano)
Program: ANTANAS REKAŠIUS – “Music for Strings” No. 2; JOSEPH HAYDN – Symphony no. 43 in E flat major, Hob. I:43 (“Mercury”); JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL – Concerto for violin, piano and orchestra in G major, Op. 17
Tickets – 31, 41, 51, 61 EUR
Friday, June 21, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Philharmonic
“End of Thomas Hampson. LNSO, Modestas Pitrėnas”
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and chief conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloist THOMAS HAMPSON (baritone, USA)
Conductor MODESTAS PITRĖANS
Program: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Overture and Guillem’s aria “Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo” from the opera “All of them are like this” (Cosi fan tutte), K. 588; Fandango scene and Count’s aria “Hai gia vinta la causa!” from the opera “The Marriage of Figaro” (Le nozze di Figaro), K. 492; CHARLES GOUNOD – Ballet music “Les Troyens” and “Danse de Phryné” from the opera “Faust” (Faust); JULES MASSENET – Herod’s aria “Ce breuvage pourrait… Vision fugitive” from the opera “Hérodiade”; GIUSEPPE VERDI – v. 1 and 3. ballet music from the opera “Macbeth”; Rodrigo’s death scene from the opera “Don Carlos”; FRANZ LEH?R – Concert Waltz “Gold und Silber”, Op. 79; Danilo’s aria “O Vaterland du machst bei Tag” from the operetta “The Merry Widow” (Die lustige Witwe); LEONARD BERNSTEIN – Piece for Orchestra “Times Square” and Gabey’s song “Lonely Town” from the musical “On the Town”; COLE PORTER – Petruchio’s “Where is the Life that Late I Led” from the musical “Kiss Me Kate”; “In the Still of the Night” and “Begin the Beguine”
Tickets – 41, 51, 61, 81, 101 EUR
