FESTIVAL OVERTURE

 Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Šiauliai Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gegužių Street 57)

FESTIVAL OVERTURE

ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
(Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS, Honorary Conductor DONATAS KATKUS)

ŠIAULIAI POLIFONIJA STATE CHAMBER CHOIR
(Artistic Director and Chief Conductor LINAS BALANDIS)

Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

The St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1994 on the initiative of Professor Donatas Katkus to perform Baroque music, but the newly-formed collective of professional musicians had no intention of sticking to that. In the first year of its existence, the collective put together an impressive programme and toured Poland, where it got praised by Krzysztof Penderecki himself. The orchestra, which celebrates its thirtieth anniversary this year, has built up a varied repertoire over the years: after gaining a reputation as a “baroque orchestra”, it has continued to broaden its musical horizons, performing an increasing number of contemporary pieces by both Lithuanian and foreign composers. Today it is known as a versatile and professional orchestra, distinguished by its artistic imagination and actively involved in a variety of social and artistic actions.

The orchestra’s artistic director and chief conductor Modestas Barkauskas made his début at the Klaipėda State Music Theatre in 2009 and at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in 2012. He still conducts some of the productions staged in these theatres. In the concert, the conductor will lead the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra and the Polifonija Choir in a performance of Pēteris Vasks’ “Mass”. The five-movement work in the form of a typical Christian mass was originally written for choir and organ, but when the composer heard the melody of vocals and string instruments, he was so impressed that the score was adapted for performance with a symphony orchestra.

The programme includes Mass by P. Vasks

Free admission