News

Tuesday, July 17, 7 pm - ROMAN PERUCKI (organ, Poland)

The career of Polish organist Roman Perucki is associated with the city of his birth, Gdansk. This is where he graduated from the music academy and immediately became a teacher there. Today, he is one of its professors and among the most recognised organists in Poland.

Perucki has played in numerous famous concert halls and churches around the world, including the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Gent Cathedral, and the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. He has also toured in Japan, China, the United States and Australia, and has organised over 2,000 concerts – recitals and appearances with orchestras and other performers.
The musician’s activities have been recognised by the Ministry of Culture of Poland, he has received many of the prizes awarded by the Gdansk municipal government, also being a recipient of the highest award issued by the Vatican, the Pro Ecclesiae et pontifice and the Order of Saint Silvester.
The program prepared for Vilnius will not leave even the most choosy fans of sacred music disappointed, as in the hands of this soloist, even the best-known works take on unique colours!

Program features J. S. Bach, D. M. Gronau, A. Vivaldi, F. Mohreim and others

Tuesday, July 24, 7 pm - OLIVIER PERIN (organ, France)

A regularly performing soloist, excellent improviser, and expert in the French Baroque. This is the first time the director of the Grand Nancy Conservatory, organist Olivier Perin, will be in Vilnius.
His masterful playing, improvisational freedom and French elegance are in perfect harmony and delight both audiences and music critics alike. “O. Perin  is a talented, sensitive musician, seeking to make each piece sound perfect, which offers his audiences the chance to experience something very deep indeed” (L’Eclaireur du Gâtinais).
We can’t wait to hear about your experiences!

Program features J. S. Bach, J. Brahms, F. Mendelssohn and others

Saturday, July 28, 7 pm - VERENA STEFFEN (flute, Switzerland) and OLIVIER EISENMANN (organ, Switzerland)

The grand resonance of the organ and elegant flute passages will fill the vaulted ceilings of St Casimir’s Church at the concert of Verena Steffen and Olivier Eisenmann.

These musicians, who have travelled the most famous churches and concert halls, receive the warmest of welcomes from the public expressed as stormy standing ovations. When asked what the secret to their success has been, the musicians look at one another demurely and grin – surely, when you are playing such heavenly instruments, could it be any other way…?

Program features G. Ph. Telemann, W. Eisenmann, M. Sawa, and others

Tuesday, July 31, 7 pm - KAROLINA JUODELYTĖ (organ)

“Playing the organ is my hobby. I can dedicate all of my time to it. When I play, I feel revived and inspired – I yearn to take on new works”, admits one of the most striking Lithuanian organ players of the young generation, Karolina Juodelytė.
Despite her young age, the performer has amassed quite a bit of experience in organ-playing, reaching impressive professional highs (such as the 12th M. K. Čiurlionis Organ Competition where she won all five special prizes!).
Though her driving force is not the number of awards but the grand sound of the organ, the sacred church space, 19th–20th-century music and meeting her audiences: “Taking my place at a concert organ is a celebration which I dearly look forward to”, says Juodelytė as an invitation to her concert.

Program features N. de Grigny, J. S. Bach, R. Wagner

Thursday, August 2, 7 pm - MATEUSZ RZEWUSKI (organ, Poland)

Making his debut appearance at the Sacred Music Hours, Mateusz Rzewuski is an extraordinarily talented young Polish organ player, earning admiration from both professionals and audiences following his performances.
The 27-year-old performer is a laureate of numerous international competitions, an active participant in master classes and has earned scholarships from various foundations. The musical and professional maturity of Rzewuski comes across not just in his active concert schedule, but also the successful organ and chamber music festival he started from 2013, held in Lukow.
The brightest stars of the organ music world highlight the young performer’s astounding technique and musicality. What about him will captivate you?

Program features V. Lübeck, J. P. Sweelinck , D. Buxtehude, F. Tunder and others

Tuesday, August 7, 7 pm - SOMANG LEE (organ, South Korea)

This will be Somang Lee’s first ever appearance in Vilnius. The South Korean organist graduated from the Ewha Women’s University and is deepening her skills and knowledge in Germany, at the Dettmold Higher School of Music.

For this young musician, the organ is not merely a work instrument, but an inseparable part of her life. That’s why, in her hands even the most complicated music becomes a spell-binding and rushing river of sounds, and each appearance becomes a breath-taking journey through the world of music. Get ready to come along!

Program features D. Buxtehude, J. S. Bach, P. Eben, Ch. M. Widor

Thursday, August 9, 7 pm - JUAN PARADELL SOLÉ (organ, the Vatican City)

Some wonderful news for everyone awaiting the visit of Pope Francis to Lithuania! The main organist of the Vatican City, Juan Paradell Solé, will be holding a performance as part of the Sacred Music Hours.

As the performer says, even the most impressive cathedrals in the world would be empty without music. This is why for over 30 years he has regularly played in concerts and during feasts, ceremonies and celebrations at the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.

Paradell Solé is an organ and Gregorian chant professor at the L. Refice Conservatory of Music in Frosinone and the president of honour of several organ music associations.

Program features C. Braga, A. Marcello, G. Morandi, G. Bélier and others

Tuesday, August 14, 7 pm - Concert dedicated to mark the wedding anniversary of Juozas and Alexandra Kazickas

Performers: IEVA JUOZAPAITYTĖ (soprano)
RENATA MARCINKUTĖ LESIEUR (organ)
LIUDAS MIKALAUSKAS (bass)
LEOPOLDAS DIGRYS (organ)

“His (Juozas Kazickas’) love for his Homeland, expressed as the adamant belief that Lithuania will eventually be free, was almost as strong as his love for his beloved Alexandra and his whole family.  He did everything in his power to make this dream come true. He was unstoppable. His energy had no limits. No meeting was ever too boring for him, no obstacle – too large, no idea – too bold.

Throughout their entire lives, Juozas and Alexandra gave their support to those who needed help the most. Our parents were exceptionally pious, modest in their ways, generous, and always thankful to the Almighty for the gifts He gave them: life, a family, friends and the chance to serve their Homeland”, – this is the warmth and light in which the Kazickas children and family recall their parents, who would have celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary this year.

Remember them and spend some time with your loved ones as well, all while listening to some wonderful music.

Program features J. S. Bach, G. Caccini, S. Rachmaninov,  A. Raudonikis and others

Sunday, August 19, 7 pm - CHRISTIAN-MARKUS RAISER (organ, Germany)

One of the best neo-Baroque Oberlinger organs in Europe resounding in St Casimir’s Church attract the most vibrant performers in the world to the Sacred Music Hours. Many of them can boast of an impressive concert itinerary in terms of geography and appearances with stars of the music world. However, Christian-Markus Raiser is the first to have recorded an experimental CD featuring works for organ and bells.

The artistic director of the Karlsruhe Evangelical Church regularly gives concerts and is an exceptionally talented improviser. So, when going to this concert, remember your favourite melody. Perhaps it will become a virtuosi improvisational theme…

Program features K. Hoyer, F. Mendelssohn, M. Reger and others

Tuesday, August 21, 7 pm - ANDRZEJ CHOROSIŃSKI (organ, Poland)

We would be hard-pressed to find an organ that hasn’t been played by the Polish virtuoso Andrzej Chorosiński, from the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Adelaide Town Hall, the Aula Paolo in the Vatican to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow and King’s College Chapel in London. These a but a few of the stops along the way on the impressive concert map of this performer.

Chorosiński’s discography, featuring masterful improvisations, consists of over 20 recordings, while his active cultural activities testify of an enviable collection of awards and medals. The professor of the Warsaw Chopin and Wroclaw Lipinski music academies is convinced that the organ must be a magical instrument, capable of transporting us just that little bit further than is otherwise written in the sheet music. We have no doubt that you’ll be assured of this at the concert of this masterful organist.

Program features G. F. Haendel, A. Guilmant, M. Sawa and others

Tuesday, August 28, 7 pm - GAIL ARCHER (organ, USA)

A Grammy nominee, this is a performer who has created an impressive international musical career, performing as the organist at the Vassar College and is the director of the music program at the Barnard College at Columbia University, also the founder of the women organists’ network, Musforum. This unresting, unbelievably charismatic personality is Gail Archer.
The performer is highly valued for her musicality, the originality of her interpretations and conceptual programs (incidentally, she is the first American to have performed all of Messian’s works).
For as long as she can recall, Archer has always been attracted to the organ: “I was so mesmerised by how much potential this instrument had. It can produce so many different sounds”.
So be ready for a colourful program to see out the summer with some powerful chords.

Program features R. Schumann, J. Shatin, M. Howe and others.

Tuesday, September 4, 7 pm - JOÃO SANTOS (organ, Fatima, Portugal)

The organist from the “pink” Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima, João Santos, has briefly left this Christian pilgrim city and the largest organ in Portugal (it consist of 65,000 pipes, the largest one reaching 12 m) so that he can try the instrument in our very own St Casimir’s Church.

The performer’s musical interests are not limited just to regular concert performances (he plays in Portugal, Switzerland, Brazil, the United States, France, etc.). Santos also writes music and conducts the Coimbra municipal Carlos Seixas choir.
For his Vilnius concert, the performer has selected a program that will reflect his southern soul and excellent playing technique.

Program features J. S. Bach, C. Franck and others

Tuesday, September 11, 7 pm - Closing concert of the cycle, dedicated to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kazickas Family Foundation

Performers: JUSTINA GRINGYTĖ (mezzo soprano)
JUSTINA AUŠKELYTĖ (violin)
RENATA MARCINKUTĖ LESIEUR (organ)

At the closing concert of the Sacred Music Hours cycle we have in store the brilliance of bright personalities and some womanly charm: an opera star, a violin virtuoso, and an organ music enthusiast have combined their talents to give the public a concert of astounding beauty.

The silky, rich voice of Justina Gringytė, encircled by the dashing violin passages of Justina Auškelytė and the grandly resonant sounds of the organ played by Renata Marcinkutė Lesieur shall crown the extraordinarily colourful program of this year’s cycle.

We are sure that this unexpected trio will capture your attention until the very last beat, and remind us all of the enormous contribution of the Kazickas family to our country’s culture.

Program features J.S. Bach, A. Guilmant, G. Donizetti and others

Photos: Moments from the Sacred Music Hours concert where Siauliai Boys and Youth Choir DAGILELIS, led by REMIGIJUS ADOMAITIS, performed together with the Lithuanian Art Ensemble DAINAVA (USA), led by DARIUS POLIKAITIS.