Year: 2019

2019 Thursday, May 23, 19:00 St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus str. 30)

ŠV. CHRISTOPHER’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA GIFTS A SPECIAL MUSIC EVENING DURING WHICH, UNDER THE BATON OF THE ORCHESTRA’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS, BACH AND SCHNITTKE WILL BE INVITED FOR MUSICAL DIALOGUE BY PIANIST IGNAS MAKNICKAS (LITHUANIA-USA).
Ignas Maknickas was born in 1998. Santa Barbara, California. Graduated from M. Čiurlionis National School of Arts in the piano class of Associate Professor Albina Šikšniūtė. Ignas is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London, in the class of prof. Joanna MacGregor – with a 4-year scholarship for piano bachelor studies.
Ignas Maknickas is a laureate of international piano competitions. 19th International F. Chopin Young Pianists Competition in Schafarn, Poland (1st place); 2014 XX International Young Virtuoso Competition in Zagreb, Croatia (1st place) and International Competition in Enschede, Holland (3rd place and Public Award). 2018 The Harold Samuel Award was given to Ignas at the Harriet Cohen Bach Competition at the Royal Academy of Music in London. o 2019 he became the laureate of the 3rd Aarhus International Piano Competition (3rd place).
2017 Ignas took part in Young Concert Artists’ interviews in New York, and in 2018, he became a silver medal winner at the Manhattan International Music Festival and was invited to attend the prestigious Oxford Piano Festival in the UK.
Supported by M. Rostropovich Foundation 2009-2017 Ignas Maknickas attended Professor Mūza Rubackytė’s mastery lessons in Vilnius, Music Fest Perugia Festival in Italy and G. Sebök Academy Piano Pic in Bagnères-de-Bigorre in France, played in prestigious events – Louvre Concert Hall in Paris, Schleswig-Holstein Festival in Germany, Hermitage in Sankt Petersburg and Annexes I, II and V Vilnius piano Festival, a final concert with the Lithuanian national Symphony Orchestra he performed Chopin’s second piano Concerto.
Ignas Maknickas performed with Lithuanian State Symphony (9 years old), Alicante (Spain) University Philharmonic, Dartington (United Kingdom), Brunens (Czech Republic), Kaunas and Aarhus (Denmark) Symphony, Lithuanian, St. Christopher and Klaipėda Chamber Orchestras. This autumn, Ignas Maknickas in London performed Mozart’s 23rd concert K. 488 with the oldest UK chamber orchestra The London Mozart Players, conducted by maestro G. Simon.
The first Ignas Maknickas recitals were held in 2014 and 2016 during the Christopher Summer Festival in St. Catherine Church. 2017 and 2018 The pianist held recitals at Vaidila Theater in Vilnius. 2018 Ignas Maknickas performed solo recitals at Steinway Hall in London and T. Mann in Nida.
Ignas Maknickas participated in the Piano Texas Festival-Academy in Fort Worth (USA) and the Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Salzburg, studied in many master classes of famous pianists, professors, among them – J. Achúcarro, D. Bashkirov, D. CABASSI I. Cooper , P. Devoyon, B. Douglas, C. Elton, A. Grynyuk, S. Hough, Y. Kaplinsky, V. Kholodenko, J. Lowenthal, M. Papadopolous, J. Perry, M. Pressler, N. Seriogina, T Ungar, I. Vered. From 2016 Ignas regularly attends maestro Geoffrey Simon’s master classes in London.
2012 and 2015 Ignas Maknickas was awarded with letters of thanks from the President of the Republic of Lithuania. 2016 The Mayor of Vilnius awarded him with “Little Christopher” “For Music Achievements and Vilnius City Celebration”. 2018 Ignas was awarded the Molyneaux Prize at the Royal Academy of Music. From 2016 Ignas Maknickas is patronized of the Arts Global Foundation.
Ignas Maknickas will perform J.S. Bach’s work for piano and orchestra A BWV 1055 and A. Schnittke’s concert for piano and strings. The concert will also feature wonderful P.Vasks’ music for strings.
Artists:
Vilnius City ŠV. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director and Senior conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Piano – Ignas Maknickas (Lithuania-US)
In the program:
Piano Concerts by Bach and Schnittke, P. Vasks Music for Strings
…Continue readingBACH AND SCHNITTKE DIALOGUE

2019 Thursday, April 9, 19:00 St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus str. 30)

Oboe – it’s an instrument with a miraculous, hypnotic voice that will enslave even the biggest skeptic. In comparison with other modern wooden instruments, oboe sometimes is referred to as having a clear, magical and deep voice. Still in 1695 The Sprightly Companion, an instruction book published by Henry Playford, describes the oboe as “Majestic and Stately” No wonder, with its help the sorcerers hypnotized the snakes.
This time works of A. Vivaldi, J. S. Bach, T. von Schacht, A. Honegger, J. Francaix will reveal unearthly, majestic sound of oboe. We invite you to spend the evening in a special way – listening to the exclusive oboe music concert, which like a magic wand raises a sense of spiritual lightness that lifts up a soul.

Performers:
Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Robertas Beinaris (love oboe)
Paulius Gefenas (flute)
Caroline Savickienė (oboe)
Agnė Ivanauskaitė (oboe)
Kristupas Kačionas (oboe)
Giedrius Malikėnas (oboe)
Vytautas Kiminius (hornpipe)
Tadas Girčys (oboe, cor anglais)
Edvardas Kuleševičius (clarinet)
…Continue readingMagical oboe

2019 May 2 at 7 pm St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus str. 30)

What are legendary movies? That are a timeless movies that doesn’t age in sense of time, storyline ore genre. Their heroes are known by all generations. No less known is the music of such films. Most people from the first chords recognizes the melodies of the genius Italian composer Nino Rotta created for the film “The Godfather”, “The Godfather II”, “The Death on the Nile” by Agatha Kristi, and many other legendary films. No less are known Roberto Molinelli and Ennio Morricone, who were awarded with many rewards for movie music. To this day Morricone’s an amazing, enchanting melody of the movies “Once upon a time in America”, “Malena “, Roberto Molinelli beautiful piece “Four pictures of New York” awakens imagination and on the paths of memories leads back to the past.

The specially adopted for the saxophone melodies of theses Italian musical geniuses, will be performed by Kęstutis Vaiginis. Masterful and mature younger generation jazzman – saxophonist, composer and band leader. The soprano and tenor saxophone, as well as the flute playing musician is distinguished by a transparent controlled sound, lyricism and emotionality.

Performers:

Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

Saxophone – Kęstutis Vaiginis

In program:

Roberto Molinelli, Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone and other works.…Continue readingMusic by legendary movie composers

18 April, 2019, Thursday, 19:00 at St. Catherine’s Church (Vilnius St 30)

Beautiful concert for the awaiting of Easter by St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra a Choir Vilnius

The period of Easter – is a special time, when we actually encounter with the news of spring and revival, and before the celebration comes, we impatiently wait for it. While waiting we are invited to think over our life, aims, hopes, cleanse our thoughts, free our mind from every-day worries, calm down, listen and hear.

On this special occasion of awaiting, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra together with Choir „Vilnius“ will perform a monumental piece by James MacMillan – Cantata „Seven Last Words from the Cross“. It is an exceptional composition pulsing with variety of expressions and stunning realism of the plot expressed by the musical language. These are the last words of Christ spoken at his hour of passion on the cross. The texts are originals, from the four gospels of the Bible; singing is in English and Latin. In 1993 the piece was commissioned by the BBC television, and in 1994 it‘s separate parts were broadcast during the Easter week. The piece by a Scottish composer has earned its reputation as a masterpiece – this is one of the most sensitive and mesmerizing piece of this theme in the history of Humanity.

The Jesuit priest Antanas Saulaitis will set special atmosphere of the concert.

Parts of the Cantata:

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do
2. Woman, Behold, Thy Son!.. Behold, Thy Mother!
3. Verily, I say unto you, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise
4. Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?
5. I thirst
6. It is finished
7. Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit

PERFORMERS

Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

State Choir “VILNIUS”

Chief Conductor ARTŪRAS DAMBRAUSKAS

Conducted by MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

The Jesuit priest ANTANAS SAULAITIS will participate…Continue readingAwaiting of Easter

4 April, 2019, Thursday, 19:00 at St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

While meeting real spring we present to your attention – exceptionally fun and dreamy concert with maestro Donatas Katkus – POETIC KATKIANA!

Spring – it is the time, when everything awakens, comes back to life and brings joy. Maestro Donatas Katkus – is a spring bomb; he is as spring in Lithuania, unpredictably surprising with his awakening replicas, refreshing with his extraordinary musical interpretations, bringing joy with his never-ending pranks.

In the program of the concert you will hear festive and yet precise and light Mozart, musical choliganism by Faustas Latėnas, who is unimaginable without it, and of course, mindful poetic Osvaldas Balakauskas.

This time we invite you to celebrate spring with music, vivid and universal St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, this time conducted by Charismatic Donatas Katkus and the beloved tenor of the orchestra Edgaras Davidovičius. This concert will improve your health (people say that laughter is a source of vitamin C).

Program:

F. Latėnas. Vocal cycle “From the Manuscripts of Helen Blinkeviciene and Poetry Notebooks of Petras Blinkevicius”, text by Juozas Erlickas

V. A. Mozart. Quartets

O. Balakauskas. “Invention and Dance”

PERFORMERS

Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

Concert conducted by DONATAS KATKUS

Soloist – EDGARAS DAVIDOVIČIUS (tenoras)…Continue readingPoetic Katkiana

21 March, Thursday, 19:00, at St. Catherine’s Church the charity concert “Children for Children” will be held for the fifth time.

It is meant to commemorate the world famous cello player, conductor, protector of human rights, philantropist Mstislav Rostropovich.

In a festive charity concert “Children for Children” the ideas of Mstislav Rostropovich himself will be brought back to life. The famous musician has patronized both very talented and ill children. Therefore, together with St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra conducted by Modestas Barkauskas, we will see on stage young performes that are supported by the foundation of the foundation of M. Rostropovich and want to pay attention to their sick peers: everyone will be invited to contribute to the Childrens’ Hospital Charity Foundation.

PERFORMERS OF THE CONCERT:

St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Modestas Barkauskas).

Young performers patronized by the Foundation of M. Rostropovich:

Justas Drakšas (trumpet), Agnė Gečaitė (violin), Rugilė Juknevičiūtė (cello), Liepa Jurgutavičiūtė (violin), Rokas Makštutis (clarinett), Nora Straukaitė (ballet), Jonas Vozbutas (accordion), Ugnė Liepa Žuklytė (violin).

Conductor – Modestas Barkauskas.

Organisers of the event: Charity Foundations of M. Rostropovich, Children’s Hospital, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Lithuanian Radio and Television. The project is patronized by – H. E. President Valdas Adamkus and Mrs. Alma Adamkienė.

The broadcast of the concert will take place on 23 March on LRT Plus. Entrance to the concert is free.…Continue readingCharity concert “Children for Children”

Delicious concert for the 25th birthday of St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra for all – music gourmets, music lovers, longtime orchestra fans and friends!
Here it is coming – so long awaited and carefully planned – 25th birthday of St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra! For your greatest joy, this time on stage musicians will serve a perfect musical cake. We will hear the most beautiful pieces that will reveal orchestra’s exceptional cheerfulness, charm and uniqueness. To make it even more fun, they will share the stage with remarkable soloists, who have earned their recognition on the greatest stages. We will celebrate together with hearty folk singer Veronika Povilionienė, artistic saxophone virtuoso Petras Vyšniauskas, velvet bass Liudas Mikalauskas who has conquered many, expressional violinist Ingrida Rupaitė and famous beloved piano trio FortVio. In the selected program, we will hear rarely performed musical jewels – charming Blitz Fantasy by Vakhtang Kakhidze, impressive Trio Grosso by Anatolijus Šenderovas among others. Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Modestas Barkauskas will conduct the birthday parade and of course, it would not be a celebration without the founder and longtime nurturer of the orchestra Donatas Katkus. Musicologist Rasa Murauskaitė will lead the concert.
Let us celebrate the 25th birthday of an exceptionally lively, colorful St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra. There will not stay a single person indifferent to this fantastic celebration of joy and delicious music; we promise!

PERFORMERS
Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Conductor Emeritus DONATAS KATKUS
VERONIKA POVILIONIENĖ (voice)
PETRAS VYŠNIAUSKAS (saxophone)
LIUDAS MIKALAUSKAS (bass)
INGRIDA RUPAITĖ PETRIKIENĖ (violin)
TRIO FORTVIO
Indrė Baikštytė (piano)
Povilas Jacunskas (cello)
Ingrida Rupaitė (violin)

…Continue reading25th BIRTHDAY OF ST. CHRISTOPHER ORCHESTRA

14 February, Thursday, 19:00, St. Catherine’s Church of Vilnius (Vilniaus St 30)

Charming and secretive evening with Tango music performed by true professionals of this genre – it is a unique experience on St. Valentine’s day!
During this concert, you will be charmed by exceptional voice of a tango expert, Eduardo Gimenez, sonorous sound of St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra will blend with rich harmony of tango music ambassadors, ensemble 4TANGO.
Do not miss a rare chance to feel as if you would actually be in Argentina: imagine a warm evening, seductive scent of exotic flowers in the air, and you, drinking you favorite drink in a small café and listening to a live performance of music by Astor Piazzolla…

PERFORMERS:
EDUARDO GIMENEZ
4TANGO:
Kristina Žebrauskaitė (accordion), Birutė Bagdonienė (viola), Donatas Bagurskas (double bass), Feliks Zakrevskij (piano)
Vilnius ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
…Continue readingEDUARDO GIMENEZ and 4 Tango with Orchestra