Sounding europe II

Dedicated to Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of the EU

Performers:

Kaunas city symphony orchestra

Chief Conductor Constantine Orbelian (USA), Manager Algimantas Treikauskas

Kaunas state choir

Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Robertas Šervenikas

Soloists:

GINTARĖ RAMANAUSKAITĖ (soprano)

VILIJA MIKŠTAITĖ (mezzo-soprano)

LAURYNAS VILIUŠIS (tenor)

GIEDRIUS PRUNSKUS (baritone)

Conductor MICHAEL KÖHLER (Germany)

Program:

Part I

FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY – Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ("Italian")

Part II

CARL MARIA VON WEBER – Choruses from the opera "Der Freischütz":

"Victoria! der Meister soll leben!" from Act I

Bridesmaids' Chorus "Wir winden dir den Jungfernkranz" from Act III

Hunters' Chorus "Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem Jägervergnügen" from Act III

Ludwig van beethoven:

Turkish March from the incidental music to "Die Ruinen von Athen", Op. 113

Prisoners' Chorus "O welche Lust" from the opera "Fidelio"

Finale of Symphony No. 9 "An die Freude"

In the first half of 2027, as Lithuania holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time in history, the Kaunas Philharmonic is proud to contribute to this significant state event and become an integral part of the socio-cultural program of the Lithuanian Presidency. On this occasion, we present an exclusive concert series, "Sounding Europe," designed to commemorate this historic period and honor one of the most prominent creators in European music history – Ludwig van Beethoven, marking the 200th anniversary of his death. Using L. van Beethoven's music as a universal language, the concert series will invite reflection on the importance of the values of freedom, solidarity, human dignity, democracy, and unity for contemporary Europe, as well as the role of culture in strengthening intercultural dialogue, community, and European cultural identity.

With this concert, we will also commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of L. van Beethoven's contemporary, composer and conductor Johann Philipp Christian Schulz. In 1825, as Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, he and the orchestra performed the world's first complete cycle of all nine of L. van Beethoven's symphonies. This cycle was repeated in 1826. He also conducted the premiere of L. van Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto in 1811 and the premiere of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's First Symphony in 1827. The second concert of the cycle will be conducted by Michael Köhler, a renowned interpreter of F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's symphonies and oratorios, who resides and works in Leipzig.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania