Here in Germany, the name Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis is rarely heard, yet in his native Lithuania the composer and painter is revered as a major artistic figure. With his symphonic poem »In the Forest«, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Giedrė Šlekytė, opens the celebratory concert marking the start of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The evening’s soloists are also Lithuanian: Asmik Grigorian and Edgaras Montvidas perform well-known arias and duets by Richard Wagner and Giacomo Puccini. In this way, other key EU member states are also brought to life in sound. Brussels, the political centre, is represented by the Belgian composer Joseph Jongen and his richly romantic fantasia.
As the oldest orchestra in the country, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra has been a major cultural institution and a flagship of the capital Vilnius for decades. Conductor Giedrė Šlekytė has already recorded two albums with the orchestra – featuring, of course, Lithuanian music: »I am also very happy whenever I can conduct works by Lithuanian composers and present our country through contemporary sounds.«
PERFORMERS
Litauisches Nationales Symphonieorchester orchestra
Asmik Grigorian soprano
Edgaras Montvidas tenor
Giedrė Šlekytė conductor
PROGRAM
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
In the Forest
Kazimieras Viktoras Banaitis
Kastytis’ Ballad
Balys Dvarionas
Dalia’s Aria
Richard Wagner
Prelude to Act III from »Lohengrin«, WWV 75
Richard Wagner
In fernem Land
Richard Wagner
Traft ihr das Schiff im Meere
- Interval -
Amilcare Ponchielli
Sinfonia
Amilcare Ponchielli
Si...questa estrema grazia
Giacomo Puccini
Sola, perduta, abbandonata (Alone, lost, abandoned)
Giacomo Puccini
Tu, tu, amore, tu? (You, you, my love, you?)
Joseph Jongen
Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra in E major, Op. 12
Giacomo Puccini
Addio, fiorito asil (Farewell, flower-adorned refuge)
Giacomo Puccini
Un bel dì vedremo (One fine day we shall see)
Giacomo Puccini
Vogliatemi bene (Love me)
