Programme: a semi-staged performance of Bronius Kutavičius’s cycle Metai (The Seasons) written to the eponymous poem by Kristijonas Donelaitis

5 pm – pre-concert talk

The opening concert of the festival, titled “A Year with Kutavičius,” is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of one of the leading personalities in contemporary Lithuanian music – Bronius Kutavičius. Without any attempts at startling or shocking effects, this composer was his own man from the very start and continued to walk his won path to this very day. His radical works were heavily misjudged and criticised at the time, often being accused for not being “music at all.” This reproach, however, was quite close to the truth, since Kutavičius drew inspiration from the areas far removed from that of music – such as language, rituals, old architecture, and Lithuanian textile ornaments. Like an archaeologist he reconstructed the pre-historic, forgotten layers of the archaic culture, exposing them to our eyes and ears.

The concert will feature Kutavičius’ oratorio Seasons after the eponymous poem by Kristijonas Donelaitis. The cycle consists of four parts: “Joys of Spring,” “Summer Toils,” “Autumn Wealth,” and “Winter Cares.” “Stones, clay whistles, a bow, or a straw pipe would suit Donelaitis more…” says the composer, opting for a symphony orchestra for the depiction of the first part of the Seasons. According to musicologist Linas Paulauskis, “it seems that with this work the composer returns to his roots – only this time without the folk music stylisations – reaching to the very core, to the music as primeval and elemental as it can be, like the sun which shines, the snow which melts and the life that awakens.” In the other parts of the oratorio, folk instruments and even work implements complement the sound of the classical instruments and choral voices.

The unique opus by Kutavičius will be performed by the St Christopher Chamber Orchestra and the Klaipėda Choir Aukuras (artistic director Alfonsas Vildžiūnas), with Donatas Katkus conducting. Actor Darius Meškauskas will convey the beauty of Donelaitis’ hexameters on the background of Kutavičius’ minimalist structures. This repetitive music will build up towards highly intense dramaticism, and the composer will certainly manage to make the audience feel “bowled over with sounds.”

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