Kutavičius and His Pupils

The festival’s closing concert is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of eminent Lithuanian composer and educator Bronius Kutavičius. All works included in this programme will be performed by the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra under the baton of composer and conductor Vykintas Baltakas. 

Kutavičius, who passed away a year ago, has long been regarded as a cult figure in Lithuanian contemporary music scene – not only for his unique artistic vision, numerous collaborations with diverse music groups and artists across a whole spectrum of disciplines but also for his enormous influence on the younger generation of Lithuanian composers. Many of them were either his pupils at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, or learned by studying his scores and simply listening to his works on their own. 

According to Baltakas, “in this concert, the homage will be paid to Kutavičius’ work by presenting his pupils’ perspective: different styles, influences and experiences – all stemming from the same roots.” 

Baltakas, a pupil of Kutavičius himself, will introduce his recent work Cladi II for ensemble and electronics (2021). Among other works and composers featured in this programme are Justė Janulytė and her Circle for a Square for 4 string quartets (2018), Šarūnas Nakas and his Aporia for large ensemble (2001), Onutė Narbutaitė and her Melody in the Garden of Olives for solo trumpet and 2 string quartets (2000). In the performance of the latter Laurynas Lapė, a graduate of the Stasys Šimkus Conservatory in Klaipėda, will appear as a soloist. 

Clocks of the Past II for large ensemble (2002) by Kutavičius was included as a maestro’s symbolic tribute to this programme. Musicologist Linas Paulauskis pointed to the formal characteristics and development of this work “permeated by the image of Japanese gardens.” 

In preparation for this programme the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra (KCO) joined forces with the Lithuanian Ensemble Network (LEN) led by Baltakas. LEN is a contemporary music organization connecting professional ensembles, soloists, conductors and composers. Members of the KCO will join their colleagues from the LEN both in larger ensembles and in smaller chamber groups. 

The programme dedicated to Kutavičius to be presented on 6 October will close the 19th Music of Changes Festival and pass the baton to the Music Autumn Festival that will open with the same programme to be performed on 7 October at the Energy and Technology Museum in Vilnius. 

• 50% off for schoolchildren, students, senior citizens and people with disabilities (appropriate cards to be shown);

• 50% off for children under 7 years of age (admitted only to the educational programmes);

• Admission free for persons in wheelchairs (appropriate cards to be shown ) and 50% off for one accompanying person;

• 10% off for group bookings (20 and more tickets for one event);

• 100% off for schoolchildren and students of the Klaipėda art schools (appropriate ID cards to be shown), which include: Klaipėda Stasys Šimkus Conservatory, Klaipėda Juozas Karosas Music School, Klaipėda Eduardas Balsys Gymnasium of Arts, Klaipėda Jeronimas Kačinskas Music School, Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Klaipėda Adomas Brakas School of Art. A transaction fee of € 1.20 is applied when purchasing tickets via the BILIETAI ticketing system.