Vilnius Festival
The Vilnius Festival is one of the most prestigious, solid and versatile classical music events in Lithuania and a major summer destination for music-lovers during the hottest tourist season. With primary interest in presenting classical music, performed by the established soloists, ensembles and symphony orchestras from all over the world, the Vilnius Festival also continues to promote contemporary Lithuanian music by commissioning new large-scale works, and offers a platform for jazz and musical theatre.
Since the first Vilnius Festival in 1997 its primary idea has been to promote the historical and modern assets of world culture in society. Cooperation between Lithuanian and foreign musicians has fostered the creation of a multicultural music scene in Lithuania, as well as mutual tolerance and trust, and the discovery and support of new artistic forces. The organizers of Vilnius Festival seek to reflect the cultural experiences of different nations and eras in the festival program.
Date / number of events:
- Annually from the end of May to the beginning of July / 10-15 concerts
- Intended Audience
- Music fans and professionals of all ages, educational backgrounds and nationalities
- Significance of the event
- Vilnius Festival is an international music festival accredited by the European Festival
- Association’s General Assembly in Geneva. It was accepted as a legitimate member of the Association in October 1999.
Geographical Range
Thanks to its cooperation with well-known Lithuanian and foreign performers, its common projects with Lithuanian, Italian, Polish, German, French, Croatian, Slovenian and Swiss festivals, and its active involvement in programs of cultural tourism, Vilnius Festival has dispersed far and wide the liveliness of Lithuania’s culture, as well as the works of contemporary Lithuanian composers and a reputation for professionalism among its performers.
Bonds between the festival and Lithuania’s cultural image
The cooperation of Vilnius Festival organizers and performers with world-renowned musicians (Yehudi Menuhin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Justus Frantz, Riccardo Muti, Krzysztof Penderecki, David Geringas, Gidon Kremer) has accelerated the acceptance of not only Lithuania’s musical culture but also its political activities in the international realm. The support of these musicians for Lithuania’s intention to integrate to the EU was raised not only by artistic acts but also by official documents.
The active participation of Vilnius Festival in programs of Lithuanian cultural tourism and its close cooperation with diplomatic missions of foreign countries has generated high interest among foreign guests and tourists in both this event and Lithuanian cultural happenings in general.
VILNIUS FESTIVAL 2024
28-th festival
June 2–21, 2024
June 2, Sunday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Credo in Pace. LNSO, Robertas Šervenikas, Kaunas State Choir, Soloists
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
KAUNAS STATE CHOIR
(artistic director and principal conductor Robertas Šervenikas
Soloists: SHEKU KANNEH-MASON (cello, United Kingdom)
DMITRI LEVKOVICH (piano; Ukraine, Canada)
Conductor ROBERTAS ŠERVENIKAS
Programme:
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI – Chaconne from Polish Requiem for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra
MIECZYSŁAW WEINBERG – Concerto for cello and orchestra in C minor, Op. 43
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Choral Fantasy for piano, choir and orchestra, Op. 80
ARVO PÄRT – Credo for piano, mixed choir and orchestra
Ticket prices – 31, 41, 51, 61 Eur
June 5, Wednesday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Mission Possible. Marc-André Hamelin Performs Beethoven, Schumann and Ravel
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN (piano, Canada)
Programme:
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Piano sonata, Op. 106, in B flat major (Große Sonate für das Hammerklavier)
ROBERT SCHUMANN – Waldszenen, Op. 82 (Forest Scenes)
MAURICE RAVEL – Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 (Treasurer of the Night)
Ticket prices – 21, 31, 41, 51 Eur
June 7, Friday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Three Heroes: Wagner, Liszt, Strauss. LNSO, Victorien Vanoosten, Yoav Levanon
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloist YOAV LEVANON (piano, Israel)
Conductor VICTORIEN VANOOSTEN (France)
Programme:
RICHARD WAGNER – Overture to the opera Parsifal
FERENC LISZT – Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124
RICHARD STRAUSS – Symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (A Hero’s Life)
Ticket prices – 31, 41, 51, 61 Eur
June 9, Sunday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Lithuania Meets Ukraine. Vilnius String Quartet, Ukrainian Soloists Quartet
VILNIUS STRING QUARTET:
DALIA KUZNECOVAITĖ (violin)
ALGIRDAS ŠOCHAS (violin)
KRISTINA ANUSEVIČIŪTĖ (viola)
VIKTOR REKALO (cello)
UKRAINIAN SOLOISTS QUARTET:
DMYTRO UDOVYCHENKO (violin)
VALERYI SOKOLOV (violin)
NATALIIA KULEBA (viola)
OLEKSYI SHADRIN (cello)
Programme:
BORIS LYATOSHINSKY – String quartet No. 2, Op. 4, in A major
OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS – String quartet No. 3
FELIX MENDELSSOHN – String octet, Op. 20, in E flat major
Ticket prices – 21, 31, 41 Eur
June 11, Tuesday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Long Live the King! “The King’s Singers” in Vilnius
Vocal sextet THE KING’S SINGERS (United Kingdom):
PATRICK DUNACHIE (1st countertenor)
EDWARD BUTTON (2nd countertenor)
JULIAN GREGORY (tenor)
CHRISTOPHER BRUERTON (1st baritone)
NICK ASHBY (2nd baritone)
JONATHAN HOWARD (bass)
Choral works for various ceremonies and celebrations of the British monarchy by English composers from various periods
Ticket prices – 31, 41, 51, 61 Eur
June 13, Thursday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Requiem in Memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis. St. Christopher Orchestra, “Jauna muzika”, Modestas Barkauskas, Gabrielė Kupšytė
Vilnius City Municipality ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Barkauskas)
Vilnius City Municipality Choir JAUNA MUZIKA
(artistic director and conductor Vaclovas Augustinas)
Soloist GABRIELĖ KUPŠYTĖ (mezzo-soprano)
Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Programme:
OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS – Requiem in Memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis (Liturgical text)
Free admission
June 16, Sunday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Harmony Garden. “Il Giardino Armonico”, Giovanni Antonini, Giovanni Sollima
Baroque Orchestra IL GIARDINO ARMONICO (Italy)
Artistic director, soloist and conductor GIOVANNI ANTONINI (chalumeaux, Italy)
Soloist GIOVANNI SOLLIMA (cello, Italy)
Programme:
DOMENICO SARRO – Concerto in A minor for recorder, strings and basso continuo
LEONARDO LEO – Concerto in D minor for cello, strings and basso continuo, L. 60
LUIGI BOCCHERINI – La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid (Night Music of the Streets of Madrid) for strings, G. 324
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN – Concerto in D minor for two chalumeaux, strings and basso continuo, TWV 52:d1
ANTONIO VIVALDI – Concerto in A minor for cello, strings and basso continuo, RV 420
GIOVANNI SOLLIMA – Passa Calle XXI for two chalumeaux, cello, strings and basso continuo (version of 2021)
Ticket prices – 21, 31, 41, 51 Eur
June 19, Wednesday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
A New Sound of the Masterpieces. LCO, Sergej Krylov, Anna Geniušienė
LITHUANIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic director, soloist and conductor SERGEJ KRYLOV (violin)
Soloist ANNA GENIUŠIENĖ (piano)
Programme:
ANTANAS REKAŠIUS – Muzika styginiams (Music for Strings)
JOSEPH HAYDN – Symphony No. 43 in E flat major, Hob. I:43
JOHANN NEPOMUK HUMMEL – Concerto for violin, piano and orchestra, Op. 17
Ticket prices – 31, 41, 51, 61 Eur
June 21, Friday, 19.00, Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall
Thomas Hampson Gala. LNSO, Modestas Pitrėnas
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloist THOMAS HAMPSON (baritone, USA)
Conductor MODESTAS PITRĖNAS
Programme:
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Overture to and Guglielmo’s aria Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo from the opera Cosìfan tutte (Women Are Like That), K. 588; Fandango scene and Count’s aria Hai già vinta la causa! From the opera Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492
CHARLES GOUNOD – Ballet music Les Troyens and Danse de Phryné from the opera Faust
JULES MASSENET – Hérode’s aria Ce breuvage pourrait... Vision fugitive from the opera Hérodiade
GIUSEPPE VERDI – Ballet music from the 1st and the 3rd act from the opera Macbeth; Rodrigo’s death scene from the opera Don Carlos
FRANZ LEHÁR – Concert waltz Gold und Silber (Gold and Silver), Op. 79; Danilo’s aria O Vaterland du machst bei Tag from the operetta Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow)
LEONARD BERNSTEIN – Orchestral piece Times Square and Gabey’s song Lonely Town from the musical On the Town
COLE PORTER – Petruchio’s song Where is the Life that Late I Led from the musical Kiss Me Kate; songs In the Still of the Night and Begin the Beguine
Ticket prices – 41, 51, 61, 81, 101 Eur
***
The festival organisers:
Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society, PI “Vilniaus festivaliai”, Vilnius City Municipality
