Musical drama ''Emilija''

The story of the warrior Emilija Pliaterytė returns to the stage with a new famous singer!

The musical drama "Emilija" by the state ensemble "Lietuva", which has conquered the largest arenas in Lithuania, returns for one night only – February 10 at the Kaunas "Žalgiris" arena. A new face for Emilija, but the name remains the same: the lead role will once again be played by a Monika. The audience-favorite Monika Liu is being replaced in the lead role by Monika Pundziūtė – one of Lithuania's most prominent music performers, who is diving into a new creative challenge and promising her own version of Emilija: one close to the historical figure, yet complemented by her own character and interpretation.

"When I received this offer, I felt a very good sensation. It feels as if I even manifested it: I really wanted and dreamed of a new role that I could enjoy and immerse myself in completely. Now my thoughts revolve only around Emilija – I am reading about combative women, Joan of Arc, Mickevičius' "Gražina", Pliaterytė herself, and I am very eager to get to know and discover her, while bringing a lot of myself into the role – because I see quite a bit of myself in her attitude. I want to master the role, understand it, and when it is time to step onto the stage, be fully prepared to deliver the best version possible," rejoices the heroine of the upcoming "Emilija" performance.

Monika Pundziūtė, who previously went by the stage name Monique, has been well-known to the Lithuanian public since her victory in the music project "X Faktorius" and the successful career that followed with notable episodes. The musical theater stage is also familiar to the performer – she played the lead role of the Queen of Serpents Eglė in Laimis Vilkončius' rock opera "Eglė", and portrayed Jaunutė, the wife of Steponas Darius, in the musical "Lituanica". In recent years, M. Pundziūtė has turned toward more personal original work and chamber concerts, so the role of Emilija also marks her return to the big stage.

Along with M. Pundziūtė, other famous guest actors and performers will participate at the "Žalgiris" arena and embody historical characters – the well-known opera bass Tadas Girininkas, Mantas Zemleckas, Jovita Jankelaitytė, Andrius Kaniava, Žygimantas Galinis, and others. The roles in the performance will also be played by the "Lietuva" ensemble choir and dance troupe, with live music provided by an orchestra conducted by chief conductor Egidijus Kaveckas and guest musicians.

"Speaking about the changes in the lead role, we want to say that a part of that warrior can be in each of us – we are different, and at the same time, in different life situations, we can be very determined. Historically, this is also a part of our identity. I understand that viewers who watched the project might be surprised to see a different type, but I have no doubt that the new Emilija will surprise with her uniqueness. We are happy to have had the chance to create together with the previously cast Monika Liu, but once she decided to dive into her own creative plans, we saw an opportunity to reveal more performers. With the team, we became convinced that Monika Pundziūtė has the necessary character and stage power – it is no coincidence that we call Emilija one of the "giants" of our history, so a strong historical figure also requires fortitude in every sense on stage," says the project's initiator and head of the "Lietuva" ensemble, Edita Klaunauskaitė.

The musical drama "Emilija" is an ambitious program by the state ensemble "Lietuva", which had a successful premiere in 2024 on the country's five largest stages. The legend of Pliaterytė, once born, drew arenas full of spectators and inspired with battle scenes, majestic music reminiscent of cinema films, and famous faces in unexpected roles.

"It is impossible not to notice that the "Lietuva" ensemble has been following a completely new, ambitious creative path for some time now <...> These performances are like living monuments. They bring to life on stage not only the stories of the most prominent Lithuanian figures, the warrior Emilija Pliaterytė, and the pioneer of Lithuanian writing Mažvydas, but also carry out an important mission – by reminding all generations of the most important historical moments of our small country, they nurture and protect the identity of the Lithuanian nation. Without knowing the history of our nation, we will not have a future, so I want to express respect and support for the idealists of the "Lietuva" ensemble who conceived this direction and are persistently walking this difficult path, delighting the people of Lithuania with productions that emphasize our country's past and evoke a sense of pride in our hearts," commented the famous choreographer and director Anželika Cholina.

"Emilija Pliaterytė is a hero of the 19th century, and we talk too little about our heroes. I often thought about why our state developed so rapidly, and I think it was determined by bright personalities, starting with Vytautas the Great and ending with Emilija. Based on history, they took bold steps and overcame everything with faith. And who is our hero of today? Will we have 21st-century heroes at all, who will they be?" ponders the performance director Kęstutis Stasys Jakštas, who directed the collage opera "Mažvydas" with the "Lietuva" ensemble.

Emilija Pliaterytė is the first captain and participant of the 1830-1831 Polish and Lithuanian uprising who stood against the Russian Empire. Her footsteps were later followed by other women leaders who fought for equal rights. Therefore, the plot of the musical story is created based on real events, while delving into the young woman's inner struggles regarding her love for her people, her husband, her mother, and her father. With a reserved nature, living in the shadow of constant parental conflict, Emilija Pliaterytė longed for freedom from a very young age. Emilija was not satisfied with the then-current position of women in the family and society; she did not want to be just a "keeper of the hearth" supported by a man, so she learned to shoot and fight with swords, and learned to ride a horse perfectly. Upon learning that an uprising had begun in Poland, Emilija dressed in men's clothing, cut her hair, and went with other rebels to overthrow the tsarist government. Thus, the legend of Emilia Plater was born.

Historical events will be conveyed through modern stage art solutions – scenography, stylized costumes, emotionally impactful visualizations creating a 3D effect, and choreographic scenes. Forces were joined by four composers – Jievaras Jasinskis, Jonas Jurkūnas, Gintautas Venislovas, and Rytas Svilainis, who created music for the performance adapted for live national instruments, strings, and electronics.

CREATORS:

Director: Kęstutis Stasys Jakštas

Composers: Jievaras Jasinskis, Jonas Jurkūnas, Rytas Svilainis, and Gintautas Venislovas

Chief Conductor: Egidijus Kaveckas

Script and Libretto Author: Sandra Bernotaitė

Scenographer: Gintaras Makarevičius

Costume Designer: Olga Filatova Kontrimienė

Choreographer: Aušra Krasauskaitė

Assistant Director: Giedrė Kriaučionytė-Vosylienė

Video Projection Designers: Lukas Miceika and Vaclovas Nevčesauskas

Lighting Designer: Eugenijus Sabaliauskas

Sound Engineer: Tomas Ždanavičius

SOLOISTS:

Emilija Pliaterytė: Monika Pundziūtė

Emilija's cousin Cezaris Pliateris: Mantas Zemleckas

Adjutant Marija Prušinskaitė: Jovita Jankelaitytė

Emilija's mother Ana fon Mol: Ilona Pliavgo

Cossack commander Verzulinas: Žygimantas Galinis

Poet: Andrius Kaniava

Emilija's cousin Mykolas Pliateris: Donatas Kaikaris

Emilija's father Pranciškus Ksaveras Broel-Pliateris: Zenius Sakalauskas

PERFORMERS:

State ensemble "Lietuva" and guest musicians: chamber string ensemble (leader Ingrida Raupaitė) and brass ensemble "Sonum Brass Ensemble" (leader Sergijus Kirsenka)