Oh, happy day!

Concert series "from christmas to new year" December 26–31, 2026

Oh, happy day!

Performers: Kaunas state musical theatre choir Chief Choirmaster Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė Gabrielė Bielskytė, Kotryna Dogadajeva, Akvilė Garbenčiūtė, Indrė Ignatavičiūtė, Karina Ivanickytė, Kazimieras Ivanovas, Aistė Jakaitė, Taurinta Klesevičiūtė, Rokas Laureckis, Gabija Lokytė, Emilija Mackevičienė, Viktorija Michailova, Gintaras Petraška

Featuring Kaunas state musical theatre orchestra instrumental ensemble Leader Jonas Janulevičius Jonas Janulevičius, Mantas Jančiauskas, Lina Kireilė, Alina Kliujeva, Martynas Grigas, Kasparas Šerpytis, Martynas Tamulis, Rokas Jurkus, Mindaugas Bivainis, Dainius Radomskis, Salvijus Striuogys

Conductor RASA VAITKEVIČIŪTĖ Concert host MARTYNAS STANKEVIČIUS

We invite you to celebrate Christmas with music that inspires you to rise! On the second day of Christmas, the Kaunas State Musical Theatre artists will visit the Kaunas Philharmonic to present the beauty of spiritual gospel music to the listeners.

This evening, gospel will resonate with all its power – from heavenly traditional hymns to contemporary pieces pulsing with soul and rock rhythms, performed by the artists of the Kaunas State Musical Theatre choir, participants of various TV music projects and concert programs, and creators of individual concert programs. We will hear hits such as "Goodness of God", "Shout to the Lord", "His Eye is on the Sparrow", "Don’t Cry", "The Color Purple", "Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen", "Not Forgotten", as well as popular worship songs.

The hymns and songs for the "Oh, Happy Day!" program were selected, prepared, and will be conducted by the Kaunas State Musical Theatre's chief choirmaster, Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė. The singers will be accompanied by an ensemble of orchestra musicians led by the theatre's chief conductor, Jonas Janulevičius. Arrangements of well-known works were created and adapted for a small ensemble of orchestra musicians specifically for this concert program by J. Janulevičius, Mantas Jančiauskas, and Ernestas Valionis. The event host, Martynas Stankevičius, will not only reveal the main highlights of gospel music history and introduce the performed hymns and songs, but will also join the performers himself.

Introducing the program, the choir leader says: "Gospel" means "good news"; here, every piece testifies: "I believe, I am hopeful, I am alive." The program is complex, so I wish the performers success on stage, and the audience – a good listening experience and the warmest emotions. I believe no one will remain indifferent to this music. After all, this is music that invites you to get up from your chair, clap, sing along, and feel it with your whole body. Listening to gospel, you don't just hear it, you feel it. That is why it touches even those who have nothing to do with religion. These are not just hymns about God, but also about a person who is searching for light."