VOX NOVA
This year, the Gaida festival invites to explore the most intimate musical instrument – human voice. The instrument bearing a diversified notional charge (of music, text, performance, body, individual), assuming shapes of all kinds in the contemporary music and becoming a source of inexhaustible creativity. The festival presents impressive voices-personalities Fátima Miranda and David Moss, voices-characters and adventurers (Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart), voices closest to God (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir), voices as carriers of mystery and tragedy (Medea) or, finally, the voice as a signature timbre of the composer (Sarah Leonard and Michael Nyman Band). Singing and reading, reciting and commenting, actors, soloists, vocal ensembles and choirs, appearing in concert, theatre and multimedia projects – such is the theme and the scope of this year’s Gaida festival.
Enjoy!
19 October, Friday, Congress Hall, 7 pm
LITHUANIAN STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Soloists:
David Moss (actor, voice)
Aušrinė Šikšnytė (mezzo-soprano)
Conductor B Tommy Andersson (Sweden)
Ramūnas Motiekaitis. Equinoxes (2007, first performance)
Onutė Narbutaitė. riva fiume sinfonia (Symphony No.4) (2007)
Heiner Goebbels. From the cycle Surrogate Cities for mezzo-soprano, reciter and symphony orchestra (1993/94):
D & C
Surrogate (text by Hugo Hamilton)
The Horatian - Three Songs (text by Heiner Müller)
Faust im Wappen
In the Country of Last Things (text by Paul Auster)
Heiner Goebbels is certainly a true man of the theatre: his post avant-garde works are full of theatricality, and a wide range of reference to elements and energies characteristic to jazz and rock. The large-scale series of works Surrogate Cities is no exception. According to the composer, it was inspired by the “realistic, certainly contradictory, but ultimately positive image of the modern city.” Different sections of the work contain the Eisler-like cabaret sincerity (The Horatian – Three Songs), high-voltage instrumental ostinatos (Surrogate), and certain presentiments of decay and disintegration (In the Country of Last Things). The Gaida festival gives an opportunity to start on this aimless journey through the city accompanied with a brilliant actor David Moss, a regular creative partner of Heiner Goebbels. The concert will also include a new symphonic opus Equinoxes by the young composer Ramūnas Motiekaitis and a one-movement composition riva fiume sinfonia, written by Onutė Narbutaitė at the commission of the anniversary Warsaw Autumn festival. It is a piece about a metaphorical journey into the non-existence, where the past, not the future, is lost.
Tickets: 20 Lt, 25 Lt, 30 Lt, 35 Lt, 70 Lt
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20 October, Saturday, Contemporary Arts Centre, 7 pm
STELLA HERMETICA
Martynas Bialobžeskis' and Jonas Jurkūnas' project
texts by Isaac Newton, Leonas Stepanauskas, Martas B.
(2007, first performance)
Performers:
Asmik Grigorian (soprano)
Gaida Ensemble
Milky Lasers
Conductor Modestas Pitrėnas
A project created by young composers specially for the Gaida festival, which originally refreshes the tradition and combines different kinds of music, including classical and alternative, contemporary academic and popular works, with video art and theatre. Stella Hermetica serves as a reference to the Western esoteric tradition that is not restricted by any religion or ideology, but, nevertheless, emphasises the importance of continuous spiritual journey, which is of greater importance than various technologies, stylistic combinations or other measures.
Tickets: 20 Lt
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21 October, Sunday, 7 pm
ORATORIO
John Tavener. The Myrrh-Bearer (inspired by the Troparion of Kassiani, 1993)
Morton Feldman. Rothko Chapel (1971)
Performers:
Arūnas Statkus (viola)
Kaunas State Choir
Conductor Petras Bingelis
This programme comprises the close music of two distant authors: the works of the ‘new spirituality’ celebrity John Tavener and the radical empiricist and experimentalist Morton Feldman. The first was inspired by the troparion of the Byzantine poetess-nun and the images of Mary Magdalene and the Mother of God, while the second drew inspiration from the modern meditative space of the Mark Rothko Chapel, formed by the paintings of the abstract expressionist and open for the followers of all religions. The music of cathartic states will be performed by the Kaunas State Choir, which has solid history of large-scale sacred music performances.
Tickets: 20 Lt, 30 Lt, 40 Lt
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22 October, Monday, Contemporary Arts Centre, 7 pm
MELOS-ETHOS ENSEMBLE BRATISLAVA (Slovakia)
Silvia Adamikova (soprano)
Conductor Marian Lejava
Luciano Berio. O King (1968)
György Ligeti. Kammerkonzert (1969-70)
Jana Kmitova. Wound (2003)
Marian Lejava. Dickinson-Songs (2002-03)
Marius Baranauskas. At the Immortal Touch of Thy Hands (2007, first performance)
Loreta Narvilaitė. In the World of Small Things the Detail is King (2007, first performance)
A couple of years ago, several young, gifted and inquisitive Slovak musicians have founded the Melos-Ethos Ensemble, which from the very beginning sought to become an expert in newest and 20th century music and to act as an initiator and promoter of Slovak music. This intercultural programme contrasting two generations will present less known music of the young Slovak composers and the works by Luciano Berio and György Ligeti - two 20th century innovators who immediately reacted to the stylistic crisis of the avant-garde and created their compositional alternatives. Two premieres of works by Lithuanian composers will also take place: expressive, refined and melancholic music by Loreta Narvilaitė and the scrupulous explorations of timbres by Marius Baranauskas.
Tickets: 20 Lt
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23 October, Tuesday, Contemporary Arts Centre, 7 pm
NEUE VOKALSOLISTEN STUTTGART (Germany)
Ričardas Kabelis. Farce (2007, first performance)
Mischa Kaeser. From Praeludien 1. Buch (2005-06)
Egidija Medekšaitė. Sophismata (2007, first performance)
Georges Aperghis. Vittriool (2006)
Jennifer Walshe. he wants his cowboys to sound like how he thinks cowboys should sound (2003)
Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart is an ensemble of adventurers, explorers, discoverers and idealists striving to reveal new sounds, vocal techniques and methods of articulation. The group’s performances contain plenty of musical theatre elements; they combine voice with electronics, video and other arts. Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart maintain close cooperation with composers, performing up to 20 new works every year. Some of the ensemble’s most favoured opuses will be performed in Vilnius, along with pieces by Ričardas Kabelis and Egidija Medekšaitė, specially composed for the Gaida festival.
Tickets: 20 Lt
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24 October, Wednesday, Contemporary Arts Centre, 7 pm
Cinemusica: CHARLIE CHAPLIN PROJECT
Performers:
Rafailas Karpis (tenor)
Disobedient Ensemble:
Andrius Radziukynas (flute)
Julius Černius (clarinet)
Ieva Sipaitytė (violin)
Robertas Bliškevičius (viola)
Mindaugas Bačkus (cello)
Sonata Zubovienė (piano)
Rokas Zubovas (piano)
Charlie Chaplin's music from
The Kid (1921)
The Circus (1928)
Modern Times (1936)
City Lights (1931)
Žibuoklė Martinaitytė. Mosaic (a tribute to Charlie Chaplin) (2007, first performance)
The Disobedient Ensemble, standing against the routine and stubborn concert forms, is preparing a new special film music project for the Gaida festival, which is dedicated to the comedy actor, director and composer Charlie Chaplin. The famous actor firmly believed that action, pantomime and accompanying musical sounds were far more effective than words. The evening with the Disobedient Ensemble will give a chance to once again enjoy subtle and sadly cheerful mise-en-scenes and music of Charlie Chaplin. The programme also features the new piece Mosaic by Žibuoklė Martinaitytė, dedicated to the famous comic.
Tickets: 20 Lt
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26 October, Friday, Domino Theatre, 7 pm
FÁTIMA MIRANDA (Spain)
Performance for the voices of Fátima Miranda prESSENCES
Original idea, codirection, musical composition and singer-performer: Fátima Miranda
Codirection: Fernando Renjifo
Lights design: Andreas Greiner
Video Realization: Eugeni Bonet and Mayte Ninou
Costumes: “En Escena” (Madrid)
Fátima Miranda – it is a voice, a wind and a percussion instrument built into the human body. A universal four-octave polyphonic (!) instrument developed through studies of Eastern and Western singing traditions and perfected through performance and expression techniques. It is more than voice – along with it come gestures, dramaturgy, accompanying images and lights. The created space of recollections and imagination is delicate, profound and poetic. There is only Fátima Miranda and her voice on the stage and any technological voice manipulations are set aside.
Tickets: 30 Lt, 50 Lt, 80 Lt, 100 Lt
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27 October, Saturday, National Philharmonic Hall, 7 pm
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Soloists:
Raminta Vaicekauskaitė (soprano)
Raimondas Sviackevičius (accordion)
Male group of the "Vilnius" Choir (leader Povilas Gylys)
Conductor Robertas Šervenikas
Feliksas Bajoras. Promise for accordion and symphony orchestra (2007, first performance)
Zita Bružaitė. Der feierliche March for voice, male choir and symphony orchestra, text by Georg Trakl (2007, first performance)
Bernhard Lang. Differenz / Wiederholung 11.2 (Orchestra Loops #2) for symphony orchestra (2003)
The Austrian composer Bernhard Lang is an enthusiast of computer music, actively collaborating with choreographers, video artists and DJ’s. His opera I hate Mozart performed in Vienna on the occasion of the Mozart Year in 2006, was different from the rolling avalanche of other anniversary events. Recently, the composer has been interested in repetitive aesthetics, looping technique, non-traditional sound objects, and is continually working on the series of works titled Differenz /Wiederholung, some of which will be performed in this programme. The Gaida festival will also present the premieres of large-scale symphonic music: the opuses by modern and spontaneous Feliksas Bajoras and the quick-witted Zita Bružaitė.
Tickets: 20 Lt, 30 Lt, 50 Lt
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29 October, Monday, National Drama Theatre, 7 pm
MEDEA
Chamber Opera (1999, production 2005)
Music: Pascal Dusapin
Libretto: Heiner Müller
Director: Antoine Gindt
Caroline Stein (coloratura soprano)
Chamber Choir “Jauna muzika”
Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
Conductor Franck Ollu
The Gaida festival presents a new version of Pascal Dusapin’s opera Medea (produced in 2005), which reveals the mystery and tragedy of the title character. Medea is counterpoised by the choral quartet, mixed choir and string orchestra, which, following the traditions of baroque opera, comment and reflect the monologues of the singer. Despite the introspective environment and certain meditative mood, the theme of the opera unfolds at full force. Medea is lonely and intimidating, betrayed and vengeful, with astounding coloratura dissolving at highest registers. Is the singer merely telling the Medean story? Or is she preparing for her own shocking ritual in our presence?
Tickets: 20 Lt, 30 Lt, 50 Lt
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30 October, Tuesday, St. Catherine Church, 7 pm
ESTONIAN PHILHARMONIC CHAMBER CHOIR
Conductor Paul Hillier
Arvo Pärt. Magnificat (1989)
Arvo Pärt. Dopo la vittoria (1997)
Arvo Pärt. Da pacem
Justė Janulytė. Aquarelle (2007, first performance)
Arvo Pärt. 2 Slavonic psalms (1984)
Toivo Tulev. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice (2006)
Arvo Pärt. Triodion (1998)
Arvo Pärt. Nunc dimittis (2001)
Dubbed a “holy minimalist” by one reviewer, Arvo Pärt triggered a global response with his puritan and sacred works. His music abounds with endless religious symbolism and mystic medieval chanting, originally reconstructed by the mind of the modern composer. Naturally, the best interpreter of the composers’ music is the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under the famous British conductor and artistic director Paul Hiller. The indivisible and monolithic programme will also include the music by the congenial composer Toivo Tulev, also inspired by the hagiography, Christian texts and metaphysical mysteries, and a new piece by the composer Justė Janulytė, which is likely to fracture the monolith not by the “music of silent gestures”, but through the images inspired by secular life.
Tickets: 20 Lt, 30 Lt, 40 Lt
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GAIDA POST SCRIPTUM
27 November, Tuesday, National Philharmonic Hall, 7 pm
MICHAEL NYMAN BAND (United Kingdom)
Sarah Leonard (soprano)
If and Why (songs, soloist Sarah Leonard)
Prospero’s Books (1990, soloist Sarah Leonard)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Man With A Movie Camera
The most distinguished contemporary British composer Michael Nyman is the author of numerous librettos, a pianist and a musicologist. He was the first to apply a term “minimalism” to music terminology. His music has reached its largest audience by way of his film scores, most famously for Peter Greenaway, with whom he collaborated on eleven movies. At every turn Nyman has proved eminently practical. Not for him the ivory tower anguish of a tormented composer grappling with abstract systems. Rather he has consistently displayed an openness to collaboration, a spry sense of humour, a literate imagination and an instinctive ability to engage a highly diverse audience. During his exclusive concert in Vilnius, the band assembled by the composer himself will appear on stage accompanied by one of the most famous English sopranos – the extravagant singer Sarah Leonard.
Tickets: 60 Lt, 80 Lt, 100 Lt, 150 Lt
