14 December 2018, 7pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: €7,00 - €20,00
Venue: Vilnius Congress Hall (Vilniaus Str. 6-1, Vilnius)
Soprano Sandra Janušaitė
Mezzo-soprano Ieva Prudnikovaitė
Tenor Edgaras Montvidas
Bass Kostas Smoriginas
Choir Kaunas State Choir (Artistic Director and Conductor Petras Bingelis)
Orchestra Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius

Concert programme

Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi

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During Advent season, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra presents one of the most monumental works of sacred music, Giuseppe Verdi's (1813–1901) Requiem Mass for four soloists, chorus and symphony orchestra. Composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist, the Messa da Requiem is one of the most frequently performed choral works in the world.  Revealing a faultless sense of drama and human psychology and defying all common theatrical limitations, Verdi's Requiem to this day stands as testimony of the composer's unique talent. Composed at the peak of Verdi's fame, the mass was never intended to function as liturgy; this powerful stage work is first of all an impersonation of an inner and universal struggle.

For this performance of Verdi's Requiem maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius brings together a stellar lineup of Lithuanian singers: Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre's principal soprano Sandra Janušaitė, the charismatic mezzo-soprano, a soloist of the Aalto Theatre Essen, Ieva Prudnikovaitė, and much sought-after singers at major opera houses around the world, tenor Edgaras Montvidas and bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas. The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will appear under the baton of its artistic director and principal conductor, a National Prize winner, Gintaras Rinkevičius.