Events

The string quartet “Chordos” presents the central concert series of the 2024 season, “Three Sides of You.” The concerts will feature some of the most significant string quartets by European and American composers. Together, the series invites contemplation of three states of being. The first concert of this series – TOUCH – is dedicated to intimacy, connection with others, the search for sensitivity, and the liberation of emotional beginnings.

PROGRAM

Alban Berg. Lyric Suite (String Quartet No. 3, 1926)
Alberto Ginastera. String Quartet No. 2, op.26 (1958)

• • • •

Alban Berg, who spent many long years in marriage, in 1925, experiences a secret and passionate 8-day love affair with Hanna Fuchs-Robettin, who is also married. Since divorce was practically impossible at the time, the composer poured out his anguish by composing this six-part Lyric Suite for string quartet. In the piece, A. Berg left traces and allusions to this forbidden love affair, including encoded initials of the lovers and quotations from recognizable pieces commenting on the composer’s state of mind. The phrase from Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony resounds, originally performed by a vocalist: “You are mine, my very own,” as well as the famous beginning of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” with its theme of doomed love.

Argentinian Alberto Evaristo Ginastera is considered one of the most important 20th-century composers in the Americas. His 2nd string quartet was composed in 1958 at the commission of the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Foundation, and it premiered that same year at the first American Music Festival in Washington, D.C., performed by the Juilliard String Quartet. The piece marks the composer’s third neo-expressionist phase. It features modern techniques along with a rhythmic impetus rooted in Argentine tango. A striking and emotional work, it becomes a test of mastery for performers due to its complexity.

• • • •

The string quartet’s 2024 season, marked by the theme “Man and People,” invites introspection while seeking strong connections with others and the world. At its core are all of us, seeking peace, challenges, passion, or meaning in life, constantly balancing internal and external forces, attention to ourselves and others.

• Ieva Sipaitytė – I violin
• Vaida Paukštienė – II violin
• Robertas Bliškevičius – viola
• Arnas Kmieliauskas – cello

• • • •

Visual identity: Kristina Pavlovaitė
Lighting design: Justas Bø

Supported by: Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City

The concert of the PAKLAIDA – Residency in Music Composition for Children.

Participants / Music Compositions:

• Martynas Žemaitis – “B.A.B.A.”
• Ainis Vaičiulis – “You Don’t Know me” / “I Can’t Lose”
• Paulina Stoškutė – “Santaka”
• Danila Berezko – “Dirt”

Supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. Partner – Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy.

The contemporary Lithuanian music festival “Music Autumn” presses on, unveiling a new facet – an international program!

Embarking on a delightful musical journey just before the holidays, the Chordos String Quartet and the contemporary trombone virtuoso Mike Svoboda (USA / Germany) grace the stage together. Acknowledge it, the pairing is exceptional – trombone and string quartet!

While the Chordos Quartet enjoys familiarity with the audience, Mike Svoboda is no newcomer to Lithuania. Here, as well as in Germany and other countries, he has performed works and even presented world premieres from a range of Lithuanian composers.

In this concert, you’ll witness a premiere too – a new composition from Marius Baranauskas commissioned by the festival and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union. The program will also feature a composition by Ramūnas Motiekaitis, known for the mindfulness inherent in Eastern cultures’ music. Alongside our country’s composers, you’ll delve into the works of truly contemporary music classics – British composer Benedict Mason and the German Karlheinz Stockhausen, one of the most influential creators of 20th-century music.

Playing the trombone for twelve years with composer K. Stockhausen in the 80s and 90s forged a profound creative connection. As M. Svoboda attests, it was a pivotal period in the development of his musical path. Today, the performer stands as one of the primary custodians of K. Stockhausen’s musical and creative legacy globally. His experience enables him to interpret the composer’s works with striking authenticity.

We invite you to immerse yourself in extraordinary sounds and embrace the upcoming holidays with unconventional yet enriching music, promising a new year of maintaining curiosity as explorers of undiscovered worlds.

______________________

PROGRAM

Ramūnas Motiekaitis. LIGHT ON LIGHT  (2004; 2023 red.)

Benedict Mason. TROMBONE AND STRING QUARTET (2012)

Karlheinz Stockhausen. TIERKREIS (1974-75; Svoboda’s arrangement, 2010)

Marius Baranauskas. World Premiere

______________________

Contemporary Lithuanian Music Festival
MUSIC AUTUMN ’23
International Program

December 13–17, 2023
Zapyškis –– Klaipėda –– Vilnius

More information: muzikosruduo.lt

The contemporary Lithuanian music festival “Music Autumn” presses on, unveiling a new facet – an international program!

Embarking on a delightful musical journey just before the holidays, the Chordos String Quartet and the contemporary trombone virtuoso Mike Svoboda (USA / Germany) grace the stage together. Acknowledge it, the pairing is exceptional – trombone and string quartet!

While the Chordos Quartet enjoys familiarity with the audience, Mike Svoboda is no newcomer to Lithuania. Here, as well as in Germany and other countries, he has performed works and even presented world premieres from a range of Lithuanian composers.

In this concert, you’ll witness a premiere too – a new composition from Marius Baranauskas commissioned by the festival and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union. The program will also feature a composition by Ramūnas Motiekaitis, known for the mindfulness inherent in Eastern cultures’ music. Alongside our country’s composers, you’ll delve into the works of truly contemporary music classics – British composer Benedict Mason and the German Karlheinz Stockhausen, one of the most influential creators of 20th-century music.

Playing the trombone for twelve years with composer K. Stockhausen in the 80s and 90s forged a profound creative connection. As M. Svoboda attests, it was a pivotal period in the development of his musical path. Today, the performer stands as one of the primary custodians of K. Stockhausen’s musical and creative legacy globally. His experience enables him to interpret the composer’s works with striking authenticity.

We invite you to immerse yourself in extraordinary sounds and embrace the upcoming holidays with unconventional yet enriching music, promising a new year of maintaining curiosity as explorers of undiscovered worlds.

______________________

PROGRAM

Ramūnas Motiekaitis. LIGHT ON LIGHT  (2004; 2023 red.)

Benedict Mason. TROMBONE AND STRING QUARTET (2012)

Karlheinz Stockhausen. TIERKREIS (1974-75; Svoboda’s arrangement, 2010)

Marius Baranauskas. World Premiere

______________________

Contemporary Lithuanian Music Festival
MUSIC AUTUMN ’23
International Program

December 13–17, 2023
Zapyškis –– Klaipėda –– Vilnius

More information: muzikosruduo.lt

The contemporary Lithuanian music festival “Music Autumn” presses on, unveiling a new facet – an international program!

Embarking on a delightful musical journey just before the holidays, the Chordos String Quartet and the contemporary trombone virtuoso Mike Svoboda (USA / Germany) grace the stage together. Acknowledge it, the pairing is exceptional – trombone and string quartet!

While the Chordos Quartet enjoys familiarity with the audience, Mike Svoboda is no newcomer to Lithuania. Here, as well as in Germany and other countries, he has performed works and even presented world premieres from a range of Lithuanian composers.

In this concert, you’ll witness a premiere too – a new composition from Marius Baranauskas commissioned by the festival and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union. The program will also feature a composition by Ramūnas Motiekaitis, known for the mindfulness inherent in Eastern cultures’ music. Alongside our country’s composers, you’ll delve into the works of truly contemporary music classics – British composer Benedict Mason and the German Karlheinz Stockhausen, one of the most influential creators of 20th-century music.

Playing the trombone for twelve years with composer K. Stockhausen in the 80s and 90s forged a profound creative connection. As M. Svoboda attests, it was a pivotal period in the development of his musical path. Today, the performer stands as one of the primary custodians of K. Stockhausen’s musical and creative legacy globally. His experience enables him to interpret the composer’s works with striking authenticity.

We invite you to immerse yourself in extraordinary sounds and embrace the upcoming holidays with unconventional yet enriching music, promising a new year of maintaining curiosity as explorers of undiscovered worlds.

______________________

PROGRAM

Ramūnas Motiekaitis. LIGHT ON LIGHT  (2004; 2023 red.)

Benedict Mason. TROMBONE AND STRING QUARTET (2012)

Karlheinz Stockhausen. TIERKREIS (1974-75; Svoboda’s arrangement, 2010)

Marius Baranauskas. World Premiere

______________________

Contemporary Lithuanian Music Festival
MUSIC AUTUMN ’23
International Program

December 13–17, 2023
Zapyškis –– Klaipėda –– Vilnius

More information: muzikosruduo.lt

Program

Musa Nkuna
String Quartet Nr. 1 (A Peaceful Shangaan Village) (1999)

Werner Kirschbaum
STRING SPLASH (2023) UA

Ulli Götte
SOL (1998)

Jens Josef
Quartettino (2017)

Martin Forciniti
U Passuliddu (2023) UA

Michael Töpel
Quartett für Violine und Streichtrio (2023) UA

In the final concert of Contemporary Lithuanian Music Festival “Music Autumn”, four compositions commissioned by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union and LRT CLASSICS are presented, specially created for the festival, revealing different interpretations of this year’s theme – performative music.

PROGRAM

Andrius Šiurys. Three fried eggs with toasted bread and a cup of coffee are the elements for Jerome’s night lunch (premiere; commissioned by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union) 

Rūta Vitkauskaitė. Preritzos (premiere; commissioned by the LRT Classics)

The Chordos Quartet, boasting extensive experience in the realm of contemporary music, has successfully shattered the conventional image of a classical string quartet on multiple occasions. Actively engaging in today’s cultural landscape, the Chordos Quartet arrives in Klaipėda accompanied by saxophonist Simonas Šipavičius, who performs under the pseudonym “Sheep Effect.” He adeptly melds modern jazz with experimental music. Their performance promises a session of relaxation amidst chaotic soundscapes, interwoven with minimalist rhythms and melodies. The evening’s program will feature compositions from the Sheep Effect albums, along with several new, previously unheard pieces.

The first event of the 25th anniversary program Pre/position.

Preposition is a function word that typically combines with a noun phrase to form a phrase which usually expresses a modification or predication, from Latin meaning “to put in front”.

The String Quartet CHORDOS celebrates the 25th anniversary! They became a synonym for quality in Lithuanian scene of contemporary music as much as the inspiration to audience and colleagues. CHORDOS has performed with great musicians of classical and contemporary, jazz, pop, world music in Lithuania and abroad.

The firs event is called by the name of preposition FROM and it takes place at Nacional Art Gallery.

PROGRAMME

Gyorgy Ligeti. Metamorphoses Nocturnes (1957)
Henri Dutilleux. Ainsi la nuit (1977)

Algirdas Martinaitis. Death and the Maiden (1997)
Onutė Narbutaitė. The Drawing for a String Quartet and Returning Winter (String Quartet No.3, 1991)
Vidmantas Bartulis. Oh, Darling (1994)

Beginning: 20:00
Duration: 1:45 (with a break)
Price: 10, 15 Eur (tickets ->)

Concert Host: Julijus Grickevičius
Lights: Vaclovas Grinius
Graphic Design: Vaiva Marozienė
Coordinator: Gintarė Palkevičienė

Anniversary program is supported by: Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City

Strategic partners: Lithuanian Composers Union and Culture Agency „Meno genas“

Concert partners: Nacional Art Gallery, GO9, INDIGO flowers

Infopartner: LRT

Liudas Mockūnas and CHORDOS String Quartet, Vilnius

Works by Liudas Mockūnas, Anatolijus Šenderovas, Dietrich Eichmann, Arvidas Malcys and Vytautas Germanavičius

Simonetti Haus, Coswig (Anhalt), Germany
Doors open at 19:00, concert at 19:30
Admission 18€, advance booking 15€ (write to info[a]oaksmus.de)

Liudas Mockūnas and CHORDOS String Quartet, Vilnius

Works by Liudas Mockūnas, Anatolijus Šenderovas, Dietrich Eichmann, Arvidas Malcys and Vytautas Germanavičius

Simonetti Haus, Coswig (Anhalt), Germany
Doors open at 19:00, concert at 19:30
Admission 18€, advance booking 15€ (write to info[a]oaksmus.de)