2 February 2018, 7pm
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Price: €10,00 - €25,00
Venue: Vilnius Congress Hall (Vilniaus Str. 6-1, Vilnius)
Piano Alexander Paley
Marteno bangos Bruno Perrault
Orchestra Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius

O. Messiaen. The Turangalîla-Symphonie

 

On the occasion of orchestra’s 29th birthday, for this evening the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and its founder, artistic director and chief conductor maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius, have prepared a unique gift to the listeners – we shall hear the impressive and very rarely performed “Turangalîla-Symphonie”, created by French composer O. Messiaen. Written in 1945-1949 and described by the composer himself as a love song, the piece turned into one of the most prominent works in the music history of the 20th century. Even though Messiaen was inspired by the legendary story of Tristan and Isolde, its literary material didn’t become a plot for “Turangalîla” and served rather as its principal idea. In the symphony, fatal love that cannot be tamed is intertwined with death – it showcases stepping over the boundaries of body and mind, merging with the endless cosmic expanse. This game between love and death is also reflected by two Sanskrit words in the title of the symphony – “turanga” and “lîla”, which could be roughly translated as “a period of time, movement, rhythm” and “the game of creation and destruction, life and death”.    

 

The piano part in this magnificent symphony of O. Messiaen shall be performed by the temperamental piano virtuoso Alexander Paley. Living between Paris and New York, the artist has often confessed that Lithuania is one of the most precious countries in his life. The famous pianist, trusted companion of maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, constantly returns to Lithuania to bring to life new artistic ideas. This time Mr. Paley shall also be joined on-stage by French pianist Bruno Perrault, who will be playing solo part on a rare instrument – ondes Martenot. Having studied the art of this unique instrument at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg, Mr. Perrault performed as a guest soloist in many events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Messiaen.  

 

On this celebratory evening the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra shall be conducted by its founder, artistic director and chief conductor, laureate of the Lithuanian National Prize maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius.