About

In Journey of Four Rivers, conductor Imantas Jonas Šimkus and charming Family Series hostess Jomantė Šležaitė-Paukštė invite young listeners to embark on a journey along four different rivers: the rivulet flowing in Beethoven’s fantasies; the longest river in the Czech Republic, the Vltava; the mighty Mississippi; and the second largest river in Europe, the Danube. How will this journey through nature’s images, stories, and emotions, conveyed by composers through their music, sound – from the calm murmur of a rivulet to wide, powerful currents? 

The journey will begin with the second movement of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, in which the composer masterfully recreates the calm, idyllic flow of a rivulet. From the German countryside, the audience will travel to the Czech Republic, where Smetana’s symphonic poem Moldau (Vltava) depicts a journey along the river’s bends – from its sources to the powerful current that carries to the capital, Prague. Then the listeners will be transferred to another continent: the world of American rivers will be revealed in Ferde Grofé’s Mississippi Suite, which features motifs of jazz, blues, and old American legends. Finally, the audience will be brought back to Europe: the journey will end with one of the most famous waltzes of all time, Johann Strauss II’s An der schönen blauen Donau (The Blue Danube), allowing to experience the grandeur and elegance of the Danube.

Journey of Four Rivers is not only a musical journey down rivers, but also a great opportunity to discover the colours and instruments of a symphony orchestra and listen to stories told without words.