Category: Archive

On the 22nd of February 2018, Thursday, 19:00.

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

A concert for the 24th birthday of St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra!

Soloist PETRAS VYŠNIAUSKAS, saxophone

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Conductor and Art Director MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

Honorary Conductor and Art Director DONATAS KATKUS

The pride of Vilnius – St. Christopher chamber orchestra is celebrating the 24th birthday! This birthday is exceptional as the orchestra meets it with changes. This year the family of the orchestra was expanded with a new, blessed by maestro Donatas himself, conductor and art director – Modestas Barkauskas. While celebrating together you will see on stage both conductors having a lot of fun!

The soloist of the evening – one of the best saxophone players in Lithuania, a man with great sense of musical humor – Petras PETRAS VYŠNIAUSKAS.

Colorful program and great mood – that is a Thursday evening with St. Christopher!

…Continue readingA BIRTHDAY CONCERT OF THE ORCHESTRA

On the 15th of February 2018, Thursday, 19:00.

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

A concert by St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra

DEDICATION TO LITHUANIA

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Lithuanian Independence

Soloist DAUMANTAS KIRILAUSKAS, piano

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Conductor and Art Director MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra invites to celebrate one of the most important dates in the history of Lithuania. Let us gather in St. Catherine’s church and listen to music written by the winner of Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, composer Osvaldas Balakauskas and Johan Sebastian Bach.

The soloist of the evening – Daumantas Kirilauskas – a pianist, associate professor at Lithaunian Music Academy, he not only has great technique, truly convincing artistic performance, but also a deep stillness and a great ability to create a drama of sounds during the concert.

The orchestra will be conducted by Modestas Barkauskas, the new art director and conductor of the orchestra.

In program: PREMIERE – Dialogues by Osvaldas Balakauskas for string orchestra and piano solo, most subtle pieces by Johan Sebastian Bach…Continue readingDEDICATION TO LITHUANIA

On the 8th of February 2018, Thursday 19:00

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

A concert by St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra

ONLY HAYDN

Soloist RUSNĖ MATAITYTĖ, violin

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Conductor DONATAS KATKUS

Bright and festive concert with classical music of exceptional beauty. This time St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra will perform pieces of a famous composer of the 18th century, Viennese Classic period – Joseph Haydn. J. Haydn had a great personality, he was also a friend and mentor of W. A. Mozart, a teacher of L. van Beethoven. He loved to include some unexpected jokes into his pieces, and in overall – he was an optimistic, joyful person and these qualities reflect in his compositions. The soloist of the evening – Rusnė Mataitytė – professor of Lithuanian Music and Theater Academy, a member of Cascades Trio, a violinist of exceptional talent, winner of international competitions, specially valued for her best quality performance and a great ability to reveal the composers ideas.

The orchestra will be conducted by Donatas Katkus.

P. S. J. Haydn – is the most favorite composer of maestro D. Katkus!

In program: the most beautiful pieces by classical music genius Joseph Haydn…Continue readingONLY HAYDN

On the 1st February 2018, Thursday, 19:00

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

A concert by St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra

“MUSICAL MOSAIC”

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor and Art Director – MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS
Soloists:
BIRUTĖ BAGDONIENĖ, viola
VILIJA BOGUŠAITĖ, violin
MIGLĖ DIKŠAITIENĖ, violin
DOMAS JAKŠTAS, cello
RUSNĖ KIŠKYTĖ, violin
LAURA STAPONKUTĖ, violin
ROKAS STUNŽĖNAS, double bass
GIEDRĖ ŽARĖNAITĖ, violin

The pride of Vilnius, nearly 24 years existing St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra is exceptional not only because it’s members are great orchestra players, they are also wonderful soloists: charismatic, diverse, virtuoso and emotional artists; each one of them has something to say. This evening is a charming musical mosaic from selected pieces by the most famous composers of all times – we will hear the best of Vivaldi, Debussy, Haydn and more. Orchestra will be conducted by just recently blessed by Donatas Katkus himself new conductor and art director of the orchestra – Modestas Barkauskas.

In program: selected pieces by A. Vivaldi, C. Debussy, J. Haydn and etc.…Continue readingMUSICAL MOSAIC

On the 25th January 2018, Thursday, 19:00

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

262 candies for MOZART – a concert celebrating His 262nd birthday!

Soloist – Onutė GRAŽINYTĖ (piano)
Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Conductor – MODESTAS BARKAUSKAS

A lively and optimistic concert with an outstanding program from only the best pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will cheer up every listener.

Highly professional performance of a young and talented soloist, crystal clear sound of an chamber orchestra –

something that will warm up ones heart on a cold Thursday night in January.…Continue readingSt. Christopher Orchestra Concert: Celebrating Mozart’s 262 Birthday

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

13th of January 2018, Saturday, 18:00

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Art Director and Conductor Modestas Barkauskas

Vilnius Cultural Center Choir

“Liepos”

Art Director

Audronė Steponavičiūtė Zupkauskienė

“Ąžuolai Club” Men Choir

Art Director Professor

Povilas Gylys

Soloists:

Eglė Stundžiaitė (soprano)

(Prof. Irena Milkevičiūtė class)

Members of Vilnius Cultural Centre Theatre Studio “Elementorius”

Directors:

Eglė Storpirštienė

Gediminas Storpirštis

Conductors:

Audronė Steponavičiūtė Zupkauskienė

Povilas Gylys

The entrance is free…Continue readingA Concert for the Day of Freedom Defenders

On the 31 December 2017, Sunday, at 17:00 and 20:00, St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

THE NEW YEAR WITH ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

While waiting for the upcoming New year 2018, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra invites you to celebrate joyfully and with music! The founder, art director and conductor of the orchestra Donatas Katkus has finally found a worthwhile inheritor, thus he will not be lonely at the conducting stand. On such occasion of a new beginning maestro will hand his magic wand to a young and great, acclaimed as the best young artist of the year 2016, Modestas Barkauskas.
The evening will be adorned by two exquisite singers of the new generation – charming, acclaimed as the most promising singer in 2016, velvet voice owner – Aistė Pilibavičiūtė and charismatic winner and scholar of a prestigious festival, who possess an exceptional voice – Edgaras Davidovičius.
In a festive program – the best arias of all times and the most beautiful Christmas songs, curious stories and fresh jokes. Surprises are foreseen!

Performers:
Vilnius Municipal St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra
Conductor – Modestas Barkauskas
The evening will be led by – Donatas Katkus
Soloists: Aistė Pilibavičiūtė (soprano), Edgaras Davidovičius (tenor)…Continue readingThe New Year With St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra

SAULIUS PETREIKIS AND ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA “WHILE WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS”

21 December, Thursday, 19:00

St. Catherine’s Church (Vilniaus St 30)

Saulius Petreikis – the most famous Lithuanian multi-instrumentalist, professional musician, wind instruments virtuoso and a wonderful creator mixing popular and classical music, folklore and jazz elements. Instrumental music by Saulius Petreikis – it is a state of mind when time and space disappear, compositions – are deep stories, music notes – heroes of the fairy-tales.
Saulius Petreikis and St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra with a program – “While Waiting for Christmas” – is a feeling of joy, when we think about certainty, send brightest wishes and give gifts. This program – is a meeting and it is so nice in here, because we are all surrounded by our close ones; cosy, because the harmony is in the air; magical, because concentration and hearing leads to a journey around the world.
Fiery musicians and melodies that fly on the wind in St. Catherine’s Church on 21 December.

Performers:
Saulius Petreikis – wind instruments of the world;
Vytautas Mikeliūnas – violin;
Donatas Petreikis – guitar, saxophone;
Mariusz Prasniewski (Poland) – double bass
Vilnius Municipal St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra. Conductor – Modestas Barkauskas
Sound engineer – Giedrius Ūsas

Arrangements by composer Jonas Jurkūnas…Continue readingSaulius Petreikis and St. Christopher Orchestra “While Waiting for Christmas”

2017 December 13, Wednesday, 19.00

Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, Vilnius

Performers

CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF VILNIUS

(artistic director and conductor DONATAS KATKUS)

Soloist LIUDAS MOCKŪNAS (saxophone)

Program

Mosaic of Epochs

JOSEPH HAYDN – Symphony No. 64 in A major Tempora mutantur (Hob. I:64)

GINTARAS SODEIKA – Tuba plumbum D‘N‘G for saxophone and strings

FRANK BRIDGE – Suite for strings (H.93)

BENJAMIN BRITTEN – Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 for string orchestra

The Vilnius Municipality St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra stands out for its stylistic versatility. Formed as a baroque orchestra it soon earned a reputation of the reviver of rare scores and also became an excellent performing force for many a Lithuanian composer. This programme revisits several epochs as if tracing the creative path of the tandem of the orchestra and its founder and artistic director Donatas Katkus. With Joseph Haydn being one the conductor’s favourite composers, the Maestro confessed that he “would again greatly enjoy conducting his music”. Couple of the works on the programme are substantially linked: Suite for strings by the composer and violist Frank Bridge and Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge by his disciple Benjamin Britten, the foremost 20th century British composer. Britten’s opus in which he employed the theme from Bridge’s Three Idylls for string quartet (1906) is dedicated to his teacher. Akin to his teacher’s music Britten’s Variations are imbued with the sense of anxiety and absorption, but also sunlit lyricism. Later on the opus drew attention of many a choreographer and was employed in dance productions. However, these works are seldom performed in Lithuania and, according to Katkus, “in anticipation of a New Year it would be rather courteous to bow to scarcely ever heard British music”. Lithuanian contemporary music will be represented by Tuba plumbum, Gintaras Sodeika’s impressive opus premiered in 2013 in Velnio duobė (Devil’s pit) in Aukštadvaris, Trakai reg. as part of an international project “New Music: New Audiences”. Then the solo part was performed by Rimantas Ramanauskas (bass clarinet). The renowned saxophonist Liudas Mockūnas will be the soloist this time. According to the conductor, the performer is in perfect tune with the opus.…Continue readingMOSAIC OF EPOCHS

28 November, Tuesday, 19:00

Vilnius City Hall (Didžioji St 31, Vilnius)
CLOUDS

A concert for the 75-th birthday of composer Jurgis Juozapaitis

Soloists:

GLEB PYŠNIAK (cello), RUSNĖ MATAITYTĖ (violin), VYTAUTAS GIEDRAITIS (clarinet)

Vilnius Municipal ST. CHRISTOPHER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Conductor and Art Director DONATAS KATKUS

Duration – 1 hour

Free entrance

Partner: Lithuanian Composers Union

Supported by: Lithuanian Council for Culture, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, LATGA…Continue readingCLOUDS. Jurgis Juozapaitis Authorial Concert