9 February 2018, 7pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: €7,00 - €20,00
Venue: Vilnius Congress Hall (Vilniaus Str. 6-1, Vilnius)
Piano
Choir State choir “Latvia”
Orchestra Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Andris Poga

CONCERT PROGRAMME:

J. Sibelius. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
A. Maskats. “The Song of the Baltics“ for soloists, choir and orchestra

The Festival of Baltic Symphony Orchestras, organized by the Lithuania State Symphony Orchestra, returns to Lithuania – this unique cultural phenomenon, shining brightly in the musical context of the Baltic states, shall present three concerts to all those gathered at the Vilnius Congress Hall. Turning into a beautiful tradition, this event shall offer a possibility to get to know the musical cultures and traditions of the Baltic states, to hear not only well-known classical masterpieces, but also national works written by local composers.   

The first concert of the Festival of Baltic Symphony Orchestras will introduce guests from Latvia: the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its artistic director Andris Poga, also the internationally renowned largest professional choir of the Baltic States “Latvia” and three Baltic soloists – Lithuanian soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė, Latvian tenor Aleksandr Antoņenko and Estonian folklore performer Mari Kalkun. 

The unique programme of this concert consists of two pieces. The first part of the concert shall introduce to the listeners the Symphony No. 2 by Finnish genius Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). Written in 1902, at the time of Russian sanctions on Finnish language and culture, the piece is often called the “Symphony of Independence”. After the premiere of Symphony No. 2 the composer wrote: “While creating it, I felt as if God the Father had thrown down pieces of a mosaic from the floor of heaven and asked me to work out the pattern."

In the second part of the concert, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Poga, along with the “Latvia” choir shall perform “The Song of the Baltics” – newest work by the famous Latvian composer Arturs Maskats. Dedicated to the Centenary of Independence of the Baltic states, the concept of the piece encompasses not only the subject of the difficult destiny of the Baltics, but also introduces national poetry from all three states.