VILNIUS FESTIVAL 2007
11th festival
For the Refined Taste
14 June – 3 July, 2007

For the eleventh time the Vilnius Festival is bringing the international elite of the musical world to Lithuania. The eleventh edition of the festival features return performances of its much coveted favourites, some important anniversaries and exciting new encounters with the musical luminaries and rising stars.

As if testifying to its international standing, the festival opens with a monumental co-production project. Robert Wilson, a legendary American theatre director, has brought together a constellation of international artists for the stage production of J. S. Bach’s St John Passion at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, after its dazzling premiere at the Théâtre du Châtelet Paris.

The orchestras of high international profile represent yet another focus of this year’s programme. The Vilnius Festival 2007 is proud to host the Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra led by its artistic director Antoni Wit; the Kremerata Baltica and Gidon Kremer, who turned 60 whilst celebrating his orchestra’s 10th anniversary this year.

Those looking for the national highlights of the programme, should note young composer Raminta Šerkšnytė, who responded to a festival’s commission with the cantata-oratorio Songs of Sunset and Dawn based on the selection of Rabindranath Tagore’s poems.

The festival will also offer plenty of opportunities to get surprised and astonished: at the rarely performed work featuring French cellist Jérôme Pernoo; at the intriguing appearance of the all-female British trombone quartet Bones Apart; at the unorthodox approach to classical masterpieces presented by pianist Petras Geniušas, baritone Vytautas Juozapaitis and composer Linas Rimša; and much much more.

This grand summer music feast will close with the first ever appearance of world jazz celebrity Wynton Marsalis (trumpet) and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in Lithuania.

Let this festival bring you many memorable moments from the encounters with featured musicians and the joy of discovery, while relishing the finest performances of the most fascinating music.

Gintautas Kėvišas,
Director of the Vilnius Festival