Concert programme
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The Sea Symphonic Poem
Gaetano Donizetti. Nemorino's Aria from L'Elisir d'Amore
Ruggero Leoncavallo. Beppe's Aria/ Harlequin's Serenade ("O Colombina") from I Pagliacci
Giacomo Puccini. Rodolfo's Aria from Act I of La Bohème
Ruggero Leoncavallo. Intermezzo from I Pagliacci
Giacomo Puccini. Cavaradossi's Aria from Act I of Tosca
Giacomo Puccini. Cavaradossi's Aria from Act III of Tosca
Giacomo Puccini. Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
Giacomo Puccini. Pinkerton's Aria from Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini. Calaf's Aria "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot
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"Merūnas Vitulskis is a top-notch vocalist", once said the Lithuanian opera legend, Professor Virgilijus Noreika. It is undoubtedly true as today the tenor is a much sought-after artist in major European opera houses, for his sincerity, warmth and magnetism acclaimed and loved by classical music professionals and audiences alike. "A tenor who could sing so beautifully is a rare gem. Merūnas is an extremely talented artist, endowed by God and nature. That's why I firmly believe that he will earn great fame one day," says Maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius. This evening at Vilnius Congress Concert Hall will see Merūnas Vitulskis and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra perform highlights of the renowned Italian opera masters Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848), Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857–1919) and Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) under the baton of the orchestra's artistic director and principal conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius.
For an impressive start, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will play a symphonic poem The Sea by one of the most famous Lithuanian composers, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911). "I would like to compose a symphony from the sound of rolling waves, from the mysterious murmur of a centuries-old forest, from the twinkle of the stars, from our songs and from my infinite longing," wrote Čiurlionis. This 1907 composition is viewed by music critics not only as a monumental portrayal of nature, but also as a reflection of the complex inner workings of the soul and a deep insight into human existence. "The mighty sea. Majestic, immense, immeasurable. The azure infinity of the sky envelops your waves and you, full of grandeur, are breathing, all calm and peaceful, because you know that your power, your vastness and your existence is boundless. The splendid, fathomless Sea! Half of the world eyes you in the night; distant suns drown their blinking, mysterious, sleepy gaze in you while you, the Eternal Queen of Giants, are breathing, all calm and peaceful, because you know that you alone exist and no one else has power upon you..." – Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.