News
 |
Three years ago Joseph Peter Kazickas was laid to eternal rest. A devoted family man, a statesman, a generous philanthropist, he led a wonderfully full, productive and exciting life.
On August 15th everyone is invited to a concert at St Casimir’s Church dedicated to Alexandra and Juozas Kazickas. The long-standing patrons of the Sacred Music Hours cycle gave thousands of organ music fans the chance to listen to the best performers in the world, and word of their appearances has long since spread far beyond Lithuania’s borders. Their tradition, now continued by the Kazickas Family Foundation, has not only become an inseparable part of the Christopher Summer Festival, but also part of the essence of Vilnius.
Conductors and organ players: ADAM BEGLEY, MANUS GREYLING, LOUISA DENBY
Hundred-year-long traditions and a youthful spark – keywords describing the Downing College Chapel Choir.
The college which started its activities in 1800 is renowned not only for the high achievements of its graduates in the field of science, but also for their special attention to artistic activities.
So it should not come as any wonder that the choir, made up mostly of students from different disciplines, captivates audiences for their wonderful sound, rich repertoire and have secured the sympathies of both the public and professionals.
This time, the collective is ready to astound you with their harmonious voices.
Programme V. Williams, M. Durufle, M. Franck and others
July 11th - HERTFORD COLLEGE CHAPEL CHOIR, OXFORD (Great Britain)
Conductors and organ players: AARON KING, HANNAH TOWNDROW
Barely back from a tour of Amsterdam, Krakow and Dublin and with two recent premieres, the Hertford College Chapel Choir will be delighting the hearts of Vilnius residents and visitors to the capital alike.
The Oxford University students who make up this collective are pleased to be coming for their first visit to Lithuania, and have an unforgettable journey through the epochs is store for audiences – from medieval music to their own latest original works.
Programme J. S. Bach, E. Elgar, M. Durufle, W. Byrd and others
July 18th - NORDIC ORGANDUO (Norway): ABRAM BEZUIJEN (organ), JEE YOUNG PARK (organ)
Performers Abram Bezuijen and Jee Young Park deny the reigning opinion that the organ is an instrument for individualists, and admit that they quite like playing together. And while the picture might not be so typical, and their preparation is more complicated, the results are certainly worth the efforts.
This duet easily navigates between traditions and new ideas, so their concert programs are always intriguing both for their content and execution. Their concert in Vilnius is no exeption. You’ll be able to hear duets and solo works, sure to surprise you for their resonant sound.
Program features S. Karg-Elert, G.Pierné, A. Guilmant, A. Wammes and others
July 25th - GIAMPAOLO DI ROSA (organ, Rome, Italy)
Audiences who have had the chance to hear this performer in concert yearn to repeat the wonderful experience. Critics who come to his appearances forget their notes and simply sit back and enjoy the music. And now the Sacred Music Hours cycle will give you the opportunity to become acquainted with this exceptional figure of the organ music world up close.
Giampaolo di Rosa is a person exhibiting the talents of an organ, piano and harpsichord player, an improvisor, composer, musicologist and lecturer. Besides his active concert schedule, he is also the founder and artistic director of international organ music festivals.
Di Rosa stands out for the originality of his interpretations and especially wide repertoire, where you’ll find works from every epoch, plus all the compositions of Frank, Liszt, Schumann and Bach for organ.
And if this weren’t intriguing enough, going to this concert don’t forget your favourite melody, for perhaps it might become the theme for his virtuosi improvisation…
Program features J. S. Bach, W. A. Mozart, C. M. Widor, O. Messiaen
August 1st - JUAN PARADELL SOLE (organ, the Vatican City)
Try to imagine that your place of work is the dream of millions of tourists, the impressive Sistine Chapel or St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City…
Our guest to the Sacred Music Hours Juan Paradell Sole doesn’t need to imagine this, because he is none other than the organist at the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
In addition, he is the professor in organ and Gregorian chanting at the L. Refice Conservatory in Frosinone and the honourary president of several organ music associations.
The performer’s concert tours span across Europe to Syria, while this year he’ll be treating the audiences of the Christopher Summer Festival with his appearance.
Program features J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, E. Torres and others
August 8th - IRENA BUDRYTĖ-KUMMER (organ, Germany)
According to organist Irena Budrytė-Kummer, if you want to reveal the beauty of this instrument, you must choose the right program – after all, each epoch is illustrated in different colours: through the thick interlacing polyphony of the Baroque, the elegant trills of the Age of Enlightenment, and the emotional melodies of Romanticism…
In her concerts, this performer treats us not only to tastefully selected repertoire, but also shares with us her original interpretations.
And you’ll have to come and hear for yourself just what she has is store for us this time.
Program features J. S.Bach, C.Franck, J.Reubke
August 15th - Performers: LEOPOLDAS DIGRYS (organ), RENATA MARCINKUTĖ LESIEUR (organ), ASTA KRIKŠČIŪNAITĖ (soprano), JUSTINA AUŠKELYTĖ (violin), SAKALAS UŽDAVINYS (actor)
At St Casimir’s Church there will be a concert dedicated to Aleksandra and Juozas Kazickas. The long-standing patrons of the Sacred Music Hours cycle gave thousands of organ music fans the chance to listen to the best performers in the world, and word of their appearances has long since spread far beyond Lithuania’s borders. Their tradition, now continued by the Kazickas Family Foundation, has not only become an inseparable part of the Christopher Summer Festival, but also part of the essence of Vilnius.
“It would be difficult to express all our gratitude just in words, so let music speak for us”, say the concert’s organisers, barely containing their enthusiasm – Prof. Leopoldas Digrys and Renata Marcinkutė Lesieur.
A charming duo at St Casimir’s Church: one of the most productive organists in Latvia, Aivars Kalejs, and his long-serving stage partner – soprano Martina Doehring from Germany.
From the very first note, these performers enchant us with their masterful playing, their freedom on stage, their warmth and sincerity. Wherever the musicians travel, they are met by loads of loyal fans. And after this performance, you’ll most likely become one of them too!
Program features J. S. Bach, G. F. Händel, J. Haydn, A. Kalejs, G. Rossini and others
August 29th - Concert organised in cooperation with THE LITHUANIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC SOCIETY AND THE EMBASSY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
PAVEL KOHOUT (organ, Czech Republic)
Pavel Kohout will be our guest at the Sacred Music Hours. He is very well known to the Lithuanian public ever since he won first place at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Organists’ Competition in 1999. The same kind of success awaited him at Ljubljana and Tokyo where the largest organists’ competition in the world was held, where Pavel won first place and the honourable special J. S. Bach prize. So there’s no doubt that we shall have the opportunity to listen to a truly exceptional virtuoso in organ playing.
Program features J.S. Bach, J. Klicka, B. Smetana
September 5th - CHRISTOPHE MANTOUX (organ, France)
Christophe Mantoux is a Grand Prix laureate of the prestigious international Chartres Organists’ Competition, a professor and a soloist who regularly gives concerts, making organs come to life in over twenty countries.
He expertly combines awe-inspiring masterful playing and a refined artistic taste, innate expression and poetic interpretations.
This performer’s appearances are so enchanting that audiences and music critics alike agree: “This is no ordinary organ music recital. It is a spiritual experience”.
Program features F. Couperin, L. C. Daquin, D. Buxtehude, J. S. Bach
September 12th - Closing concert of the cycle
Concert organised in cooperation with the EMBASSY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
TON KOOPMAN (organ, the Netherlands)
A special guest is set to appear during the Sacred Music Hours, whose list of merits, awards, titles and activities would hardly fit on one or even several pages. However, the best news is that for his first visit in Lithuania he has chosen St Casimir’s Church. A professor of Leiden University, honorary member of the London Royal Academy, and artistic director of the Itinéraire Baroque festival aroused a wave of admiration across the world when he made one of his most ambitious projects a reality – he recorded all of Bach’s cantatas. For this feat he was recognised with the prestigious Echo Klassik, BBC and Hector Berlioz awards, also receiving Grammy (USA) and Gramophone (UK) nominations.
Get ready for an impressive musical encounter at the cycle’s closing concert.
|
