Almost 40 works were selected during the ISCM Interntional Jury session, which took place on October 29-31, 2007, at the Composers' Union in Vilnius. Peter Eötvös (Hungary / Germany), Jonathan Harvey (United Kingdom), Luca Francesconi (Italy), Onutė Narbutaitė (Lithuania) and Helena Tulve (Estonia) selected works in symphonic, chamber orchestra categories as well as works for large and small chamber ensembles, choral music scores, multimedia projects and installations, which could reflect well creativity in the various parts of the world.
All selected pieces should become part of the overall dramaturgy of the festival, which will include traditional concerts as well as less formal musical actions, music walks and club events. The concept of the festival is developed in collaboration with the curator Lieven Bertels (Holland Festival).
The work of the two focus composers Peter Eötvös and Jonathan Harvey will be featured throughout the festival, with the continental premiere of Of Love and Other Demons, a new large-scale opera by Eötvös, in collaboration with the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the renowned Glyndebourne Opera Festival, and the world premiere of a new work by Harvey for cello octet.
International Jury at work: Jonathan Harvey, Helena Tulve
and Onutė Narbutaitė |
Lithuanian foremost female composer Onutė Narbutaitė, also a jury member, has accepted to write a new piece for All Souls' Day, which will bring together all the choirs of Vilnius and its surroundings to sing the same piece, synchronously, in different streets and on different squares of the city.
It will be the first large-scale international new music gathering in the Baltic Region, and the first ISCM World Music Days in this part of Europe, a dream running-up event for 2009, when Vilnius will bear the title of Cultural Capital of Europe.
For more information go to: www.wmd2008.org
LMIPC inf.