Theatres are usually enjoying some well-deserved rest during summertime; for theatregoers it is a perfect time to make plans for the upcoming season. The events of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre’s new 2016-2017 season were announced already in May, moreover, our subscription offer is still valid until the end of September – thus, it is a perfect time to plan ahead and choose from and array of LNOBT’s new, interesting and unique events.
The 97th season of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre shall be rather intensive: from 16 September to 21 May we’re planning to show 15 different ballets, 15 operas (with 6 productions intended for children – 3 operas and 3 ballets) and 3 operettas. We will also offer four exceptional concerts, a Ballet Week and some extraordinarily bright debuts.
* The highest points of every season are, of course, the premieres – this time we will present three of them. The first one, new production of “Romeo and Juliet“, shall be introduced on 28 October – its choreographer is LNOBT’s artistic director of ballet Krzysztof Pastor, and the work itself will be dedicated to the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare. Pastor has already introduced “Romeo and Juliet“ at the Scottish Ballet, in Warsaw and Chicago along with the “Joffrey Ballet”. The famous score by Sergei Prokofiev shall be conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas, the music director of the production, and second conductor Modestas Barkauskas.
* On 14-18 December the theatre will once again host the Ballet Week, which will be dedicated to the anniversary of LNOBT’s artistic director of ballet Krzysztof Pastor. We shall present his best productions “Tristan and Isolde”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “The Nutcracker”, and on his birthday on 17 December the theatre shall present a gala concert with the participation of ballet stars from all over the world.
* On 31 December we will prepare to greet the New Year 2017 with one of our latest ballet productions “Don Quixote”, with principal parts performed by superstar couple Nicoletta Manni (“La Scala”) and Osiel Gouneo (English National Ballet).
* On 4 March 2017 the LNOBT shall present the world-premiere of Raminta Šerkšnytė‘s new opera for children “Five Mary’s Miracles”, with Lithuanian libretto written by Ramutė Skučaitė after Pamela Traver’s books about Mary Poppins. This opera is the result of a competition dedicated to the creation of a new opera for children (in 2010 the competition was won by Jonas Tamulionis’ opera “The Tiny Lingonberry”). “Five Mary’s Miracles” will be directed by Kęstutis Jakštas, other members of the creative team include set designer Gintaras Makarevičius, music director Julius Geniušas and conductor Modestas Barkauskas.
* In April the LNOBT shall welcome ballet “La Piaf”, production created by Mauro Bigonzetti, one of the most famous European choreographers of our day and a star of contemporary ballet. He was recently announced as the ballet director of Milan’s “La Scala” and shall step into this position in 2018.
* It already turned into a tradition to include some concert in our usual repertoire of theatre performances. On 28 September, continuing the series of concerts by best orchestras in the world, we will welcome the the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from London along with the universally renowned master of conducting Charles Dutoit.
* On 7 October the main stage of the theatre shall welcome one of the most famous sopranos of our day, Latvian opera soloist Kristine Opolais. At this point she is considered to be the best performer of Puccini roles at the “Metropolitan Opera” in New York and is also singing at the state operas of Vienna and Berlin, London’ “Covent Garden” and many other important venues. The recital of Ms. Opolais in Vilnius will be conducted by the young Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini.
* On 13 January, the Freedom Defenders Day, LNOBT will be presenting the performance of Gioacchino Rossini’s “Stabat Mater”, which shall be interpreted by Sandra Janušaitė (soprano), Eglė Šidlauskaitė (mezzo-soprano), Tomas Pavilionis (tenor), Liudas Norvaišas (bass), LNOBT‘s chorus (artistic director Česlovas Radžiūnas) and LNOBT‘s symphony orchestra (conductor Robertas Šervenikas).
* In the winter of 2017 we will witness the return of “Madama Butterfly”. The production was intensely showcased at the “Metropolitan Opera” in New York (this theatre along with English National Opera has co-produced “Madama Butterfly” with the LNOBT) and included a spellbinding performance of the principle role by Kristine Opolais. In Vilnius, the main parts shall be sung by Sandra Janušaitė and Merūnas Vitulskis, performances will be conducted by Gianluca Marciano.
* In 2017 LNOBT’s production of “Manon” will travel to San Francisco. Since this scenic work is a co-production between the LNOBT, San Francisco opera and the Israeli Opera, in autumn we shall show the last three performances at our theatre – on 29 September, 14 October and 25 November.
* LNOBT will launch its new season on 16 September with its latest opera production “Don Carlo”, performed by the cast of the first premiere: Adam Diegel (USA), Askar Abdrazakov (Russia), Viktorija Miškūnaitė, Eglė Šidlauskaitė, Valdis Jansons (Latvia / Italy), Liudas Mikalauskas. The performance will be conducted by maestro Pierre Vallet (France).
* On 30 December LNOBT will present an exclusive performance of “La traviata”, with principle roles performed by Katerina Tretyakova (Germany) and Merūnas Vitulskis.
* LNOBT will welcome back Lithuanian soloists who are enjoying successful careers abroad: Edgaras Montvidas (“Eugene Onegin”), Kostas Smoriginas (“Le nozze di Figaro”, “Eugene Onegin”), Laimonas Pautienius (“Le nozze di Figaro”), Almas Švilpa (“Der fliegende Holländer”), Kristian Benedikt (“Carmen”), Merūnas Vitulskis (“La boheme”, “Eugene Onegin”, “Madama Butterfly”, “La traviata”), Sandra Janušaitė (“Der fliegende Holländer”, “La boheme”, “Madama Butterfly”, “Le nozze di Figaro”, “Eugene Onegin”).
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