Vilnius Festival opening concert presents Violeta Urmana, Lithuania’s most renowned opera prima donna. Italian and German critics hail her as one of today’s most eminent dramatic sopranos. Her voice is compared to the 20th c. opera singer Maria Callas’, while the press praises Urmana for her exceptionally mesmerizing acting and divine singing. With the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra led by Modestas Pitrėnas Urmana will perform Wagner. The musicians will offer vocal cycle Wesendonck Songs and Isolda’s Death Scene from the opera Tristan and Isolda. The programme also features two symphonic poems – In the Forest by Lithuanian classic Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and Death and Transfiguration by 19th c. German composer Richard Strauss.

Tickets – 70, 110, 150, 190, 230, 350 LTL

Wednesday 5 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

An evening with “The King’s Singers”

Vocal sextet THE KING’S SINGERS

Programme:

ADRIAN WILLAERT – Ave virgo sponsa Dei – inviolata est

ORLANDO DI LASSO – Domine dominus noster; In pace; Adoramus te, Christe; Ad te levavi

CYRILLUS KREEK – Taaveti laulad

PAUL PATTERSON – Timepiece, Op. 16 (text by T. Rose-Price)

CLAUDE DEBUSSY – Trois Chansons de Charles d’Orléans, L 92

Selected favourites of THE KING’S SINGERS

The schedule of The King’s Singers, one of world’s most celebrated vocal ensembles, is packed with concerts, recordings, mass media inquiries and educational projects. The male sextet performs works by both young and acknowledged composers. Be it Tomkins or Takemitsu, Bach or Bublé, The King’s Singers are always recognised for pure intonation, impeccable vocal accord, perfect textual articulation and unbelievable precision.

In the first half of the concert the guests from Great Britain will perform works by A.Willaert, O. di Lasso, C.Kreek and contemporary British composer P.Patterson. After an intermission the audience will be treated to Debussy’s three picturesque songs to the texts by Charles d’Orléans and the most beautiful songs, folk song arrangements, spirituals and pop music numbers from The King’s Singers’ repertoire.

Tickets – 30, 50, 70, 100, 150 LTL

Friday 7 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

The Beauty and Depth of Music by Johann Sebastian Bach

ANDRIUS ŽLABYS (piano)

SERGEI KRYLOV (violin)

LITHUANIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Programme:

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056

Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055

Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052

Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1in A minor, BWV 1041

Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042

The refined musicianship, depth of music perception, virtuosity – those are just a few descriptions of Andrius Žlabys, the Lithuanian pianist of younger generation. A graduate of the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music (USA) he has claimed international recognition through his appearances with the world most renowned collectives including New York Philharmonics, Boston Symphony, Cleveland and Buenos Aires Philharmonic orchestras as well as celebrated soloists. At the Vilnius Festival concert Žlabys will submerge into his favourite world of Bach. The keyboard concerti will be enriched by violin concerti from the well-known violinist Sergei Krylov and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets – 30, 50, 70, 100, 150 LTL

Monday 10 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

Festival Recital

DALIA KUZNECOVAITĖ (violin)

PETRAS GENIUŠAS (piano)

Programme:

GIUSEPPE TARTINI – Sonata for violin and piano in G minor, B.g5 (Devil’s Trill Sonata)

FRANZ SCHUBERT – Fantasia for violin and piano in C major, Op. 159 (D.934)

VLADAS JAKUBĖNAS – Melody-Legend for violin and piano

CÉSAR FRANCK – Sonata for violin and piano in A major

An outstanding evening of violin and piano music bonds Dalia Kuznecovaitė, the exceptionally talented young violinist, and Professor Petras Geniušas, a recipient of the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize. The duo’s programme features baroque virtuosity and profound passages of romantic passions, while Lithuanian position is given to one of the most poetic instrumental opuses by Vladas Jakubėnas.

Tickets – 20, 30, 50, 70 LTL

Thursday 13 June
8 pm, “Siemens” arena

Bobby McFerrin and his band

To mark the 10th anniversary of PI “Vilniaus festivaliai”

BOBBY McFERRIN (vocal)
and his band SPIRITYOUALL (USA):

GIL GOLDSTEIN (piano, electric piano, accordion; arrangements)
DAVID MANSFIELD (violin, mandolin, national resonator guitar, and lap steel)
ARMAND HIRSCH (acoustic and electric guitars)
JEFF CARNEY (acoustic bass)
LOUIS CATO (drums and bass ukulele)

Bobby McFerrin brings it all back home with his new album, spirityouall, re-imagining Americana with beloved spirituals and original songs. Bobby invites us along on his everyday search for grace, wisdom, and freedom, embracing bluegrass and the baroque, heartfelt lyrics and wordless melodies, joy and sorrow. He throws some unexpected new ingredients into the melting pot and invites us to sing together through life's trials and triumphs. Across genres, across boundaries, across generations, spirityouall raises the roof with joyful grooves.

Listening to Bobby McFerrin sing may be hazardous to your preconceptions. Side effects may include unparalleled joy, a new perspective on creativity, rejection of the predictable, and a sudden, irreversible urge to lead a more spontaneous existence.

“There is something almost superhuman about the range and technique of Bobby McFerrin,” says Newsweek. “He sounds, by turns, like a blackbird, a Martian, an operatic soprano, a small child, and a bebop trumpet.” But despite the undeniable uniqueness of his gift, Bobby’s music is always accessible and inviting. When he invites his fans to sing along, as he almost always does, few can resist.

First time in Vilnius, Mr. Bobby McFerrin with his four-octave voice and the band will make a night to remember.

Tickets – 120, 140, 160, 200, 250, 300, 400 LTL

Information and ticket booking on website http://www.tiketa.lt/show.aspx or in the system TIKETA box offices.

Friday 14 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre

For the Day of Mourning and Hope

KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI – Polish Requiem

Performers:

NOMEDA KAZLAUS (soprano), AGNIESZKA REHLIS (mezzo-soprano)

ADAM ZDUNIKOWSKI (tenor), LIUDAS MIKALAUSKAS (bass)

KAUNAS STATE CHOIR

WROCLAW PHILHARMONIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Conductor JACEK KASPSZYK

Composed almost three decades ago Krzysztof Penderecki’s Requiem is an epochal opus reflecting on significant historical events in the 20th-century Poland – ripening of the movement for independence, growing hope, memory of those who fell in freedom fight. Employing traditional form and texts of the Latin Requiem today’s foremost Polish composer entered the realm of universal music with this composition. Using Musica sacra expression means he addressed human soul, art as a powerful device in disapproval of the annihilation of the moral values, as well as showed the position of an artist. On the Day of Mourning and Hope renowned Lithuanian and Polish soloists and collectives present this monumental opus.

Tickets – 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 180 LTL

Sunday 16 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

Classical Twists

YURI BASHMET (viola)

DARKO BRLEK (clarinet)

MOSCOW SOLOISTS Chamber Ensemble

Programme:

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Serenade for strings in G major, No. 13 (Eine kleine Nachtmusik), KV 525
CARL MARIA VON WEBER – Quintet for clarinet, two violins, viola and cello in B flat major, Op. 34 (orchestral version)
NICCOLÒ PAGANINI – Concerto for viola and strings (free transcription of Quartet No. 15, MS. 42)
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY – Serenade for strings in C major, Op. 48

This year Moscow Soloists, the celebrated Russian chamber collective, brings cheerful classical programme to Vilnius Festival. Mozart’s playful Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for strings, opuses by C.M. von Weber and Paganini are compositions that one never gets enough listening to, each time discovering new elements of gallant style and virtuosity, harmonic and rhythmic colours. These favourites are performed by extraordinary soloists – Yuri Bashmet, one of the world’s most celebrated violists and artistic director of Moscow Soloists, and Darko Brlek, Slovenian clarinettist, a recipient of many an important national and international award.

Tickets – 30, 50, 70, 100, 150 LTL

Thursday 20 June
7 pm, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

Festival Jazz

MICHEL CAMILO TRIO

Michel Camilo (piano)

Lincoln Goines (double bass)

Cliff Almond (drums)

Grammy, Latin Grammy and Emmy award winner Michel Camilo has never been to Lithuania before. Sprinting to fill this gap the Vilnius Festival presents the pianist whose artistry bridges the genres of jazz, classical piano, Latin dance and music of his native Dominican Republic.

Professor Camilo collaborates with the world’s leading symphony orchestras (Los Angeles and Copenhagen Philharmonics, Gran Canarias, Barcelona, BBC, etc) and celebrated jazz masters (Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Arturo Sandoval, Ezperanza Spalding, etc). He is coming to Vilnius Festival with his favourite compact ensemble – trio. The concert programme features pianist’s compositions from his 23 personal albums, and if the atmosphere will heat up to the optimal temperature (born in Dominican Republic the musician is used to heat) the Lithuanian melomans might be so fortunate as to hear some compositions from his latest solo collection What’s Up? (its official premiere is scheduled for May 21, 2013). Thus, we might not only get a glimpse into the retrospective of a longstanding career, but also experience fascinating premieres.

Tickets – 30, 50, 70, 100, 150, 200 LTL

Where to book and buy tickets:

Lithuanian National Philharmonic box office:

Office works from Munday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Information and ticket booking by:

Phone: (+370 5) 266 5233, (+370 5) 266 5216; Cell phone: +370 698 52 075, +370 698 51 954; E-mail: bilietai@filharmonija.lt, On website: http://www.filharmonija.lt/

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre box office (only for events of 3 and 14 June 2013):

Office works from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Information and ticket booking by:

Phone/fax: (+370 5) 262 0727; Cell phone: +370 615 51 000, +370 612 46 614; E-mail: info@opera.lt, On website http://www.opera.lt/

Via the National Ticketing System BILIETAI LT (except for concerts on 3, 13 and14 June 2013).

Information and ticket booking on website http://www.bilietai.lt/ or in the system box offices (subject to service fees). For information and reservations call the short number 1588 (2 LTL/min.).

Ticketing system TIKETA (only for event on 13 June 2013).

Information and ticket booking on website http://www.tiketa.lt/ or in the system box offices (subject to service fees). For information and reservations call the short number 1588 (2 LTL/min.).

Discounts are available (except for the concert on 13 June).

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www.vilniusfestival.lt

2013, Vilnius

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ORGANISERS OF THE FESTIVAL:

Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society / PI „Vilniaus festivaliai“ / Vilnius Municipality

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