Music
Catherine jagellon. nemo nisi mors
About this event
Musical performance
Have you ever believed that marriage could solve your life? Do you know a love that is born not from passion, but from being together in a pit, at the most difficult point in your life?
The "Lietuva" ensemble presents a premiere – the musical performance "Catherine Jagellon. Nemo nisi mors". An ambitious, large-scale project will take place in the autumn of 2027 on the largest theater stages, modernly reviving one of the most prominent eras in Lithuanian history and Catherine Jagellon, who lived in it – a woman who lived in the shadow of the love between Sigismund Augustus and Barbara Radziwiłł. The sister of Sigismund Augustus, who lived in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. A war bride who, after experiencing the most difficult trials of life, became the Queen of Sweden. The Swedes remember her as one of the most prominent rulers.
"Catherine is a woman who waited to be saved until she realized she had to save herself. This is a different kind of love story, where love is born not from a suddenly sparked passion, but from a shared tragedy and mutual support within it. This is a completely new narrative in the context of musical theater. I feel a great responsibility to society regarding the stories we tell the audience. And I want to introduce more mature love stories so that different constructs can emerge within us. Catherine's love for John is born from being together in tragedy, when statuses and illusions disappear," says Giedrė Kriaučionytė-Vosylienė, the director of the new musical performance.
The role of Catherine Jagellon is created by one of the most prominent opera soloists of the young generation, Gabrielė Bukinė – a soprano, laureate of two "Golden Stage Crosses", two "Fortūna" statuettes, and the Kaunas City Culture Prize, a soloist of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Kaunas State Musical Theatre. Her repertoire includes leading roles in the operas "La Traviata", "La bohème", "Madama Butterfly", "Adriana Lecouvreur", and other productions.
Joining G. Bukinė on stage will be other prominent names from the Lithuanian opera scene, guest soloists – tenor Tomas Pavilionis, bass Tadas Girininkas, and mezzo-soprano Jovita Vaškevičiūtė. Experienced professionals who have created many memorable roles on the major opera and musical theater stages. The program also features the choir, orchestra, and dance troupe of the state ensemble "Lietuva", with guest musicians and chief conductor Egidijus Kaveckas.
Luxurious wedding in Vilnius Cathedral, evacuation from a ship stuck in ice during a trip to Finland, the failed attempt by the Russian Tsar Ivan to kidnap the newlywed Catherine. And all this within one month, after which prison awaits. When her husband John Vasa was imprisoned, Catherine could have chosen freedom, but decided to be imprisoned with him. It was in captivity that their marriage turned into something that a political union did not promise – love. "Nemo nisi mors" ("None but death") – these words were engraved on Catherine's wedding ring, which was placed on her finger by the Duke of Finland, John Vasa, in Vilnius Cathedral in 1562.
