The festive splendour and beauty are gradually entering everyday life. The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater lit the decorative Christmas tree, which has already become a tradition. This year, the main focus was on the desire to arouse new sensations. According to the originator of the festive idea, opera director Gediminas Šeduikis, theatre can be seen on the screens, heard on the radio, but its aroma can only be experienced when one arrives to the theatre in person.
An invitation to stimulate the senses
On 6 December, the audience of "La Boheme" was in for an unexpected surprise. A few minutes before the start of the opera, a musical excerpt performed by the brass instrument quintet from LNOBT’s Orchestra shook the main spaces of the lobby and with a solemn fanfare invited everyone to gather around the Christmas tree.
The celebratory illumination of the tree was accompanied by the congratulatory speech of Audrius Kundrotas, interim general manager of the LNOBT, who this year urged not only to see or hear the theatre, but also to smell it: "We thank everyone for loving our performances and actively attending them. When we light the Christmas tree, we want not only to create a festive atmosphere, but also to provide exceptional experiences, so this year we also present the theatrical scent; and, very soon, everyone will be able to take it home with them", – A. Kundrotas revealed the surprise.
Classicism with a touch of surrealism
The idea of a unique theatre fragrance was born together with the search for a vision of decorating the Christmas tree. The florist-designer Antanas Mažonas, who decorated it this year, proposed a slightly surreal concept that arouses not only the sight, but also other senses. Therefore, the sense of smell has become an excellent tool for expanding the boundaries of an impression and providing additional experiences.
"The nature of the idea itself came from the luxury of classical theatre and its elements: we see fabric, crystal, gold, glitter. It’s just that, since we live in the 21st century, we also wanted a bit of modernity, surrealism, strange ideas that, when combined, would create a unique impression without sentimentality. The fragrance helped convey the experience of the aura of theatre and provided an opportunity not only to see its performers, dance, architecture, hear music, instruments, but also to awaken the fifth sense," – A. Mažonas reviewed the creative ideas.
Theatre in Every Home
A unique aroma was created exclusively for the LNOBT from the thoughts, feelings and associations of theatre people by the team of the well-known Lithuanian fragrance house "Smells Like Spells". After listening to the interpretations of what certain objects of the theatre smell like, Vilius Malinauskas, the founder of the house of fragrances, proposed a unique scent that had not existed anywhere before.
"Olfactory sense, or the sense of smell accompanies all of us in every moment of life and takes us to the world of memories and associations without even noticing. The notes of patchouli, amber, rose, opium, musk and black pepper in the perfume formula dedicated to LNOBT will remind you of the ephemeral beauty of theatrical life and the fragility of mystery, while a drop of juniper will be reminiscent of the silence on a Christmas night. We believe that this combination will plunge everyone even deeper into theatrical experiences and create unforgettable moments, wherever they are – in the theatre, at home, in the car or with guests," – V. Malinauskas shared his thoughts.
At the moment, you may experience the fragrance of the theatre up close from the dishes displayed next to the Christmas tree. And for those who want to take this scent home, soon there will be an opportunity to purchase perfumes specially prepared for the festive period, and designed to create the impression of a special space.
