Music
Re:turn
Piano Recital "Echoes of the Baltics"
About this event
"I would like to compose a symphony from the rustling of waves, from the mysterious language of a century-old forest, from the twinkling of stars, from our songs, and from my endless longing.", - M. K. Čiurlionis
Sounds born from silence, wind, and the sea. The music of M. K. Čiurlionis, B. Dvarionas, A. Remesa, P. Vasks, and A. Pärt is not only an echo of Baltic culture but also a living, unfolding narrative that sensitively blends tradition and the present.
The concert by pianist Monika Dars (Belgium) will feature music by Baltic composers – from melancholic lyricism and the fragile harmony of frozen time to dynamic, pulsating energy; from echoes of folk motifs to bold, experimental harmonies. Folk echoes here are not just quoted, but decomposed, transformed, sometimes barely audible like a song ringing in the distance, sometimes pulsating with the rhythm of a dance. Folk melodies become a bridge between the past and the present, between tradition and innovation.
About the performer:
Monika Dars is a pianist whose performances have received recognition for their artistry, virtuosity, and innate musicality. She currently lives in Brussels, Belgium, and actively performs throughout Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Among her recent awards are the Joseph Darche Piano Prize in Brussels, Belgium, as well as second place in the Luigi Nono Chamber Music Competition in Rivoli, Italy, together with cellist Natania Hoffman. In 2018, marking the 60th anniversary of the Benelux countries, Monika performed for the royal families at the Henry Le Boeuf Hall of Bozar in Brussels.
In 2021, Monika joyfully accepted the "Golden Parnassus" award, granted to her by the Podkarpacka Fundacja Rozwoju Kultury in Poland. In 2023, she had the honor of performing S. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the "Melomania" orchestra during the Stauffer Summer Music Festival, as well as G. Hollander and A. Piazzolla's "The Seasons" with the "Stauffer Ensemble" and P. Ziegler. Since September 2023, Monika has begun teaching chamber music at the Royal Conservatory of Mons.
