History

Established in 1940, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (LNPS) remains the largest and oldest state owned concert organisation in Lithuania, whose main activity is to organise and coordinate live concerts, diverse classical/classical contemporary/jazz music events and tours throughout Lithuania and abroad. In July 1998, the LNPS was officially granted the status of national cultural institution. Since 2006 Rūta Prusevičienė has served as its Director General.

Over the seven decades of its activity it has been committed to nurturing Lithuania’s musical culture and performing arts; to making the treasures of classical and contemporary music accessible to the local audiences; and to ensuring the highest standard of artistic excellence demonstrated by the soloists, orchestras and ensembles it represents. Among its primary goals is to promote the art of Lithuanian musical performers and composers by organising and presenting new musical programmes in Lithuania and abroad each year.

The LNPS has its headquarters in Vilnius (with the Main Auditorium of 678 seats and the Chamber Hall of 200 seats). Its concert season normally extends from September through May in Vilnius and during the summer months in other localities.

The Society’s diverse activities fall into three broad categories:

• Management and promotion. The LNPS is home to its resident orchestras (Lithuanian National Symphony and Lithuanian Chamber orchestras), ensembles (Vilnius String Quartet, Čiurlionis Quartet and Musica Humana Ensemble), as well as a number of individual ensembles and soloists who are not employed by the Philharmonic Society.
• Concert agency and venue. The LNPS organises 400–600 events per year in various venues located in Vilnius and throughout Lithuania, including orchestral and chamber concerts, recitals, portrait concerts, concert series and festivals (incl. the annual Vilnius Festival, the Music in Trakai Castle series at Trakai Island Castle, the Night Serenades series of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra at Palanga Amber Museum, and the Kuronian Spit Festival at the Baltic Sea).
• Booking agency. The LNPS acts as a booking agency for visiting international performers, specialising in early, classical, contemporary music and jazz. The most prominent international performers and orchestras are invited to give concerts in Lithuania, including the London Symphony Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, Schleswig-Holstein Academy Symhpony Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach, Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin under Ingo Metzmacher, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under John Axelrod, violist Yuri Bashmet, cellist David Geringas, violinist Gidon Kremer, pianist Denis Matsuyev, soprano Violeta Urmana, conductor Riccardo Muti and the Filarmonica della Scala, composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, jazz celebrities Al Di Meola, Al Jarreau, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, and many more.

International Collaboration

The LNPS participates in diverse national and international projects and programs and collaborates with various cultural organisations. In 2002–2003 LNPh has implemented Lithuanian-Swedish two-year music exchange program, initiated similar exchange with Norway (implemented in 2005), continues the UPBEAT program, featuring young chamber musicians from the Nordic countries (since 1999). The LNPS is an active member of the Lithuanian Association of National Institutions, and a number of international organisations, including EFA (European Festival Association), ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts), Nordic-Baltic Association of State Concert Institutions, and PEARLE (Performing Arts Employers Association League Europe).