The Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra will close the season with the stars of the New York Metropolitan Opera

In May 2022, opera fans in Lithuania had a wonderful opportunity to watch the live broadcast of the New York Metropolitan Opera on movie theater screens, in which the leading role in G. Puccini’s opera Turandot was performed by Ukrainian opera prima donna Lyudmyla Monastyrska, who replaced the famous Russian soprano Anna Netrebko in this production, who was not in a hurry to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine. And this Friday, classical music connoisseurs will have a unique opportunity to hear the Ukrainian opera star live at the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra’s closing concert of the season at the Kaunas State Philharmonic.

L. Monastyrska is one of the most prominent soloists on the world opera scene today, the owner of a lyrical-dramatic soprano that is exceptional in its beauty and timbre. Foreign critics call the Ukrainian singer the new star of the vocal world, the “queen of nuances and pianissimo” and the continuation of the traditions of Maria Callas and Montserrat Caballé. Her wide international recognition is confirmed by numerous leading roles in the world’s most prestigious theaters, including La Scala, Royal Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera and others.

At the closing concert of the season of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, together with L. Monastyrska, another star shining on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera will appear – the world-famous Sakartveli baritone George Gagnidze. In the 2008-2009 season, the dramatic Baritone made his sensational debut as Rigoletto at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and has since appeared in more than 130 productions at the theater in roles such as Macbeth, Amonasro (Aida), Scarpia (Tosca), Michele (Il tabarro) , Tonio (Pagliacci), Alfio (Cavalleria rusticana) and Shaklovity (Hovanščina). An expressive, sonorous baritone distinguished by an imposing performance, G. Gagnidze is among the leading singers of his genre on the world opera stage.

Constantine Orbelianas, the chief conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, who invited world opera stars to Lithuania, chose a special program for this exceptional concert. The audience will have the opportunity to hear L. Monastyrska performing the famous aria “Casta Diva” from V. Bellini’s opera “Norma”, as well as the most famous soprano arias from the operas “Pajacai” and “Macbeth”. G. Gagnidze will delight the audience with the cult aria “Te Deum” of the fierce Roman police chief Scarpia from G. Puccini’s opera “Tosca”. It is interesting to note that the baritone from Sakartveli has performed the role of Scarpia more than 100 times during his career! The concert will also feature well-known duets from G. Verdi’s operas Nabucco and Aida. The soloists will be supported by the Kaunas State Choir, which will delight the audience with the most famous choral opuses from G. Verdi’s operas Nabucco, Troubadour, and Macbeth.

What: Season closing concert of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra

Where: Kaunas State Philharmonic

When: 2024 Friday, May 10, 6 p.m.

Photo of the organizers.