The Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society presents its concert program for the first half of 2027 and invites the listeners to choose the concerts that interest them. Between January and May, some fifty concerts are scheduled to take place in Vilnius alone. Audiences can look forward to world-renowned soloists and conductors, concerts by Lithuanian orchestras, masterpieces of classical music, and special encounters with Lithuanian composers and performers.
The first half of 2027 at the National Philharmonic promises a wide-ranging musical program – from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Beethoven’s symphonic works to pieces by contemporary composers, jazz improvisations and programmes that bring together different musical traditions. Alongside performances by the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (LCO), the program features exceptional chamber music concerts, piano recitals and musical events marking significant anniversaries in the history of Lithuanian and world music.
“The program for the first half of 2027 reflects the National Philharmonic’s commitment to nurturing the tradition of classical music whilst continually seeking new synergies, unexpected artistic connections and meaningful dialogues between different eras and cultures. It is important to us that audiences are able to hear world-class performers, discover the music of Lithuanian composers and experience a concert as a living encounter with music that is relevant to people today,” says Rūta Prusevičienė, Director General of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society.
Opera stars and world-class performers
One of the highlights of the half-year will be the concert on 16 January, Ukraine and Lithuania – 35 Years Together, marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Ukraine. The LNSO will be joined by Ukrainian soloists acclaimed on the international opera stage – soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska and baritone Vitaliy Bilyy. The concert will be conducted by Oksana Madarash and Modestas Pitrėnas, artistic director and principal conductor of the LNSO. The programme will feature works of Lithuanian and Ukrainian operatic music, arias from Verdi’s operas, and Ukrainian folk songs.
On 6 February, the LNSO will be joined by German cellist Raphaela Gromes and principal guest conductor Victorien Vanoosten (France). The evening’s programme features Elisabeth Kuyper’s Ballade for cello and orchestra, Edward Elgar’s Cello concerto in E minor and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan. This concert will bring together the musical expression of romanticism and Mahler’s majestic, colourful symphonic world.
Among other notable international musicians appearing this half-year are Chaeyeon Lee (South Korea), third-prize winner of the 2025 Jascha Heifetz International Violin Competition, who will perform with the LNSO in February; cellist Andreas Brantelid (Sweden, Denmark), who will share the stage with LCO in March; and accordionist Radu Ratoi (Moldova), who will solo with the LCO in April. In May, the LNSO led by Victorien Vanoosten will perform masterpieces of French music together with Dmytro Choni, an Austrian pianist of Ukrainian origin, and organist Karolina Juodelytė.
Piano music enthusiasts can look forward to two outstanding recitals: Lukas Geniušas will perform on 23 January, and the French pianist Lucas Debargue on 29 April.
From Beethoven and Mahler to contemporary music
For lovers of the classical repertoire, the National Philharmonic will also be offering themed concert programmes. On 20 February, the LCO, pianist David Khrikuli (Georgia) and conductor Robertas Šervenikas will present the first concert in the Beethoven Code series. The programme will feature Beethoven’s Piano concerto No. 3, the Coriolan Overture and the Eighth symphony.
On 3 March, the programme From Beethoven to Adams, marking the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death and the 80th anniversary of John Adams’ birth, will be presented by the piano duo of Zbignevas Ibelhauptas and Rūta Rikterė, together with their friends.
On 6 March, the LNSO, soprano Viktorija Miškūnaitė and Italian conductor Michelangelo Mazza will offer Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs, alongside Ottorino Respighi’s The Fountains of Rome and Johannes Brahms’s Third symphony.
On 13 March, the LCO, violinist Sebastian Bohren from Switzerland and conductor Gediminas Gelgotas will present the programme When Vivaldi Meets Pärt, Glass, Richter and Gelgotas. In this programme, baroque music will meet minimalist and contemporary opuses. The concert will feature works by Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Max Richter and Gediminas Gelgotas, whilst Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons will be presented in a version re-composed by Max Richter.
On 31 March, the French pianist Roger Muraro and the Lithuanian pianist Paulius Andersson will perform Olivier Messiaen’s Visions of Amen for two pianos – a programme in which rhythm, colour and the spiritual dimension of musical thought take on particular significance.
For afficionados of contemporary music and unexpected instrumental combinations, the concert Quite Music is on offer on 30 January. The LCO, conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas, pianist Ignas Maknickas and cellist Deividas Dumčius will perform works by Raminta Šerkšnytė, Žibuoklė Martinaitytė and Valentyn Silvestrov, as well as Ernst Bloch’s Concerto grosso No. 1 and Beethoven’s String quartet No. 11 Serioso, arranged for string orchestra.
Lithuanian music and significant musical anniversaries
The music of Lithuanian composers has always been an important part of the National Philharmonic’s repertoire. On 16 February, the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania, the LNSO and the Vilnius State Choir, conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas, will offer a gala concert. The programme will feature the premiere of a work for orchestra and choir by Jievaras Jasinskis, as well as music by other Lithuanian composers.
On 10 April, the LNSO will celebrate Arvydas Malcys’ 70th anniversary. The concert Eccentric Bolero will feature the composer’s namesake work for symphony orchestra as well as his Cello concerto. The concert will also program Hector Berlioz’s symphony for orchestra and solo viola, Harold in Italy. The soloists will be violist Dovilė Juozapaitienė and cellist Mindaugas Bačkus, with M. Pitrėnas conducting.
On 17 April, the National Philharmonic will host a concert to mark the 100th anniversary of Mstislav Rostropovich. The LNSO, conducted by maestro R. Šervenikas, will be joined by a large performing forces, including cellist David Geringas, pianist Mūza Rubackytė, violinists, clarinettists and other virtuoso instrumentalists. Amongst other works, the programme will feature A. Malcys’ In memoriam Mstislav Rostropovich.
On 9 May, to mark Europe Day and the 150th anniversary of Oskaras Milašius, a concert Belle Epoque, Belle Europe is scheduled to take place, featuring the piano duo of Rokas and Sonata Zubovas and Antiphona Vocal Ensemble (France), led by Rolandas Muleika. The programme will bring together the impressionist and romantic traditions of French music, Lithuanian folk songs arranged by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and the Lithuanian premiere of Nijolė Sinkevičiūtė’s work Reflections.
Musical journeys and unexpected crossovers of genres
The half-year program will take audiences not only through different musical eras, but also across various countries. For instance, on 27 February, the concert African and American Sketches will muster Julius Juzeliūnas’ symphonic suite, Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin concerto, the suite from George Gershwin’s opera Porgy & Bess, and music by Kurt Weill. The concert will feature the LNSO, violinist Chaeyeon Lee and conductor Martynas Stakionis.
On 14 April, the LCO, conducted by R. Šervenikas, will present a programme Night Music of the Streets of Madrid, featuring works by Luigi Boccherini, Joaquín Malats, Isaac Albéniz and Ástor Piazzolla, including Libertango and Oblivion.
On 28 April, the ensemble Jones Jones, comprising bassist Mark Desser, saxophonist Larry Oches and percussionist Vladimir Tarasov, will invite to an evening of free jazz improvisation. The concert is dedicated to V. Tarasov’s 80th anniversary.
On 19 May, the audiences will be awaited at the performance of the Canadian ensemble Constantinople, led by Kiya Tabassian. The ensemble’s members blend different cultural and instrumental traditions in their music.
Family Series
The National Philharmonic continues its tradition of family-friendly concerts. In January, the listeners will be welcomed to the musical fairy tale A Kidnapped Santa Claus and the opera for toddlers The Baroque Bird, recommended for children aged 0–3. On 24 January, the concert The Mozart Effect will acquaint the audience with the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whilst on 7 February, the programme Humming of Birds and Music, hosted by nature photographer and presenter Marius Čepulis, will invite the audience to explore the connections between the world of birds and music.
On 21 February, the LNSO will present a musical Journey of Four Rivers ranging from Felix Mendelssohn’s Legend of the Fair Melusine and Bedřich Smetana’s Vltava to Richard Wagner’s Siegfried’s Rhine Journey, Ferde Grofé’s Mississippi Suite and Johann Strauss II’s waltz The Blue Danube. There will be no shortage of entertaining programmes throughout the first half of the year, with nine concerts planned for the whole family.
For the full program of the LNPhS 86th season please visit www.nationalphilharmonic.lt The program for January–May 2027 is being published in instalments on the website; we plan to announce all the concerts by 10 November. We invite you to make the most of this season’s season ticket and look forward to seeing you at the concerts! LNPhS 86th concert season is sponsored by NORFA.
LNPhS inf.
