29 December 2017, 7pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: €19,00 - €40,00
Venue: Vilnius Congress Hall (Vilniaus Str. 6-1, Vilnius)
Soprano SANDRA JANUŠAITĖ
Mezzo-soprano IEVA PRUDNIKOVAITĖ
Soprano AGNĖ STANČIKAITĖ
Baritone KOSTAS SMORIGINAS
Tenor TOMAS PAVILIONIS
Tenor ANDRIUS BARTKUS
Šokėjai IRINA NAZARENKO AND DEIVIDAS MEŠKAUSKAS
Orchestra LITHUANIAN STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor GINTARAS RINKEVIČIUS
Director VLADIMIRAS PRUDNIKOVAS

The hot sun, wine, the Spanish temperament, expressive songs, passionate dance and love until morning! Ladies and Gentlement, welcome to a Spanish tavern where the celebrations never end! On this holiday season evening we present you a stunning musical performance – the authentic zarzuela.

Zarzuela is a widely spread Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes and incorporates temperamental dance. The origins of zarzuela can be traced back to 1657 when the Royal Palace in Madrid hosted the premiere of a new musical-dramatic performance. King Philip IV and Queen Mariana enjoyed the sumptuous evening so much that the new genre was established and named after a Royal hunting lodge, the Palacio de la Zarzuela near Madrid. Subsequently developed by various artists the zarzuela rose to fame for elaborately rich and witty librettos and the immensely varied musical score. This genre combines poetry and prose, operatic arias, short choral works and popular songs, castanet accompaniment and exceptionally well orchestrated instrumental interludes.

In the long run, the colourful content and a motley of forms and musical styles that zarzuelas could offer started to appeal to different tastes across all strata of society. Zarzuelas were performed everywhere, from entertainment districts in Madrid to the renowned opera stages all over Spain. Experts believe that zarzuela owes its vitality and colourfulness to the spirit and architecture of the bustling Spanish capital Madrid. The enthralling atmosphere of the city has fascinated local composers and visitors alike whereas zarzuela has become an integral part of the Spanish culture, which you are welcome to enjoy tonight.