In April, performances of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater are scheduled in Klaipėda, Kaunas, Alytus, Panevėžys, Utena and Molėtai. This is a unique opportunity for Lithuanian residents to watch the performances of this theatre live in their city.
Ballet dancers, opera soloists and LNOBT’s symphony orchestra, which prepared the symphonic program "Geniuses of Expressionism" together with its chief conductor Ričardas Šumila, will perform for the audience this week at the first stop of the tour – Klaipėda.
This program will feature Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony and fragments from Richard Strauss' opera "Der Rosenkavalier", performed by opera soloists Joana Gedmintaitė, laureate of two "Golden Cross of the Stage" awards, Monika Pleškytė, nominated for the award this year, and mezzo-soprano Evelina Volodkovič, who is heard more and more often on the stage of the LNOBT. On 14 April at 6:30 p.m. "Geniuses of Expressionism" will be performed at the Klaipėda concert hall, and on 15 April at 5 p.m. – at the Kaunas State Philharmonic hall. On 10 May at 7 p.m. the program specially created for the tour will also be presented at the National Philharmonic in Vilnius.
During the tours, LNOBT’s dancers will delight the audiences with Adolphe Adam's ballet "Giselle". The best soloists of Lithuanian ballet together with corps de ballet shall perform this production (with music on tape) on 13 April at 6:30 p.m. at the Klaipėda Fishermen's Palace, on 15 April at 6 p.m. at the Alytus Cultural Centre and on 21 April at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Communities of Panevėžys. This is an extraordinary opportunity to see live a complete performance of this two-part classical ballet masterpiece, created for the LNOBT by Lola de Avila, a representative of the famous Spanish choreographic dynasty.
The young generation of singers shall travel around Lithuania with the cheerful Spanish operetta "Zarsuela". Sparkling with fiery tango and flamenco rhythms, the performance will be like a breath of fresh air for those tired of complicated current affairs: it will transport you to a place where you can always get a glass of intoxicating wine under the vines in an Andalusian tavern, where cavaliers compete for dark-eyed beauties. “Zarzuela" shall be performed on 25 April at 6 p.m. at the Molėtai Cultural Centre, on 26 April at 6 p.m. – at the Utena Cultural Centre and on 27 April at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Communities of Panevėžys.
The country’s largest theatre has something to offer to young viewers as well: already this Sunday, 16 April at 12 noon, the Klaipėda Fisherman's Palace will welcome opera "Alice in Wonderland" by the Israeli composer David Sebba, intended for the whole family. The production, created by director Gad Schechter, will take you on a musical adventure with the daring dreamer Alice, the Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and, of course, the mysterious Cheshire Cat. The two-part performance will feature a chamber ensemble conducted by Martynas Staškus.
Tour performances of the LNOBT are also planned for the months of May-June, right until the "LNOBT Open" festival, which will start on 27 June in the courtyard of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The artists of the LNOBT will visit not only Lithuanian cities with their performances, but also Latvia (Liepāja) and Poland (Bydgoszcz).
