A Mosaic of Sounds
Friday Feb 1 18:30–19:50
Šaulių 36
Artistic Director Mindaugas Bačkus
Soloists: Robertas Beinaris (oboe), Vytautas Kiminius (birbynė), Vytautas Zelenis(birbynė), Aistė Bružaitė (kanklės)
With the participation of Ingrida Spalinskaitė-Kurienė (percussion)
Quite a few prominent Lithuanian musicians have lived and worked in Klaipėda. Most of them have been associated, in one way or another, with the Stasys Šimkus Conservatory – one of the oldest educational institutions in town, boasting a history of ninety-six years. Oboist, birbynė player and teacher Kazimieras Biliūnas is one of such prominent personalities of the past. He was the initiator behind the establishment of the department of folk instruments at the conservatory, which subsequently educated many talented musicians. Presented by the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, “A Mosaic of Sounds” is dedicated to the centenary of Kazimieras Biliūnas.
The roster of soloists features the alumni of the Šimkus Conservatory, including Biliūnas’ former student Vytautas Zelenis, the latter’s former student Vytautas Kiminius (birbynė) and Aistė Bružaitė (kanklės). Ingrida Spalinskaitė-Kurienė, who had studied kanklės at the same conservatory, will join the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra as percussionist.
The programme will present Lithuanian traditional instruments in the unconventional setting provided by quite a few contemporary compositions, including Būro metai (The Seasons of the Serf), a cycle for solo birbynė by Giedrius Svilainis after the poem by Kristijonas Donelaitis, three Pastorales by Vytautas Montvila (“Dunes,” “Pine-trees,” and “Sea”) and Pezzo elegiaco for birbynė and strings by Balys Dvarionas, as well as Concerto for kanklės and chamber orchestra by Algirdas Martinaitis.