Opera and Society
IX International Seminar of Opera Critics
4 October 2014
Red Foyer of the LNOBT
Vilnius
This autumn we are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of LNOBT’s activity at its current building, located at the Vienuolio street in Vilnius. Thus, the subject of this year’s International Seminar of Opera Critics is dedicated to a rather broad theme “Opera and Society”. What is the social role of an opera theatre? Why is opera often perceived as a citadel of traditionalism, and contemporary works – as a challenge for both the theatre and the audience? How is the image of a theatre influenced by its building and architecture? Finally, what is the meaning of opera theatre for the society – is it an entertainment, the cradle of culture or a part of the public etiquette?
PROGRAMME
10.30–11.00 Registration
11.00–11.15 Opening
Opera and Society
11.15–12.15 Vlado Kotnik (University of Primorska, Slovenia). Opera’s Social Power
12.15–13.00 Lada Markejevaitė (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania). Modern Architecture of the LNOBT. 40th anniversary of the LNOBT’s building.
13.00–13.30 Coffee Break
Opera and Public Opinion
13.30–14.10 John Allison (“Opera” Magazine, UK). Critics and Criticising: Opera and the Media Today
14.10–14.40 Inese Lūsiņa (“Diena”, Latvia). Opera and Politics: the Case of the Latvian National Opera
14.40–16.00 Discussion ""Contemporary opera for the conservative audience?"" Onutė Narbutaitė’s ""Cornet""
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3 October – 18.30 Onutė Narbutaitė ""Cornet"". An opera in 2 acts, sung in Lithuanian, German, French and Italian. Libretto by Onutė Narbutaitė. Premiere 21 February, 2014.
Music director and conductor Robertas Šervenikas, director Gintaras Varnas, set designer Medilė Šiaulytytė, costume and make-up designer Juozas Statkevičius, video designer Rimas Sakalauskas, choreographer Elita Bukovska (Latvia).
Cast: Tomas Pavilionis (Cornet), Jovita Vaškevičiūtė (The Countess, Marquis), Rita Petrauskaitė (Dream maiden), Liudas Norvaišas (General), Jonas Sakalauskas (Cornet’s double, Rilke), Kipras Chlebinskas (Dancer) and others.
4 October – 18.30 Giedrius Kuprevičius Čiurlionis. A ballet in 2 ats. Premiere 24 May, 2013.
Choreographer Robert Bondara (Poland), conductor Juozas Mantas Jauniškis, set and costume designers Diana Marszałek, Julia Skrzynecka (Poland), light designer Maciej Igielski (Poland), video designer Ewa Krasucka (Poland).
Cast: Genadij Žukovskij (Čiurlionis 1), Marius Miliauskas (Čiurlionis 2), Anastasija Čumakova (Sofija Kymantaitė), Rūta Juodzevičiūtė (Marija), Olga Konošenko (Bronislava), Mantas Daraškevičius (Eugeniusz Morawski), Kipras Chlebinskas (Death) and others.
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The IX International Opera Seminar is a part of LNOBT’s project “Opera and Society”. Manager of the project – LNOBT’s deputy general manager Laima Vilimienė. Coordinators – Beata Baublinskienė (conceptualization and compilation of the programme, communication), Nerijus Masevičius (management), Laūra Karnavičiūtė (communication, translations). The project is partially financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
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