LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloist YUKI HIRANO (violin, Japan)
Conductor VICORIEN VANOOSTEN (France)
CARL NIELSEN – Overture to the opera Maskarade
JEAN SIBELIUS – Concerto for violin and orchestra in D minor, Op. 47
CARL NIELSEN – Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 / FS 76, The Inextinguishable
The Presidency of the Council of the EU is a key role in ensuring stability in European affairs. The Presidency rotates among the EU member states every six months with one member taking the centre of political attention for the aforementioned period of time. From 1 July to 31 December 2025 Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society continues the tradition of celebrating diplomatic events with music, a universal language. The dedication of the concert will be embodied in the works of one of the most famous Danish composers, Carl Nielsen, concluding with his Symphony No.4, one of the composer’s most dramatic works.
In his Fourth Symphony, the composer sought to express the spirit of life, thus the symphony’s title, The Inextinguishable, is a direct symbol of the elemental will to live. It is this motif that is particularly important for the Danish people, as it embodies the spirit of resilience of the nation, especially in the face of adversity and hardship. Written during the WWI, the symphony is a powerful testimony to the human spirit’s ability to overcome challenges and to the vitality of life itself. The themes of struggle, survival and the triumph of the human spirit are closely linked to Denmark’s national identity and cultural heritage and are therefore a key focus of the Sounding North concert programme.
The Nordic sound will be enhanced by Finn Jean Sibelius’ Violin concerto for violin and orchestra, performed by Yuki Hirano, winner of the International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition.
The International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition, which takes place every four years in Vilnius, is not only a significant musical event, but also a diplomatic one, attracting talented young musicians from all over the world to Lithuania. This competition celebrates the memory of the famous Vilnius-born violinist Jascha Heifetz and fosters his legacy. The concerts of the competition winners at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall are a generous musical gift from this competition and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society to the audience.
