With the waves of summer festivals and tours still rolling in, a new concert season is already on the horizon. This fall the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society (LNPhS) begins its 85th season and welcomes it with Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. In this anniversary year dedicated to Čiurlionis, there will be plenty of concerts devoted to his work.

“We are continuing the celebration of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ 150th anniversary. Programmes dedicated to this occasion will be performed both in Lithuania and abroad. The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (LCO) and its artistic director and conductor, violinist Sergej Krylov, and pianist Lukas Geniušas will appear at the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Čiurlionis Quartet will give a concert in Riga, the LCO will perform Čiurlionis at the Mažeikiai Festival, and the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) with its artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas will give a concert in neighbouring Latvia, at the Cēsis Concert Hall. The anniversary year will feature not only individual concerts at the National Philharmonic, but also what is perhaps the most anticipated event of the season – the 9th Vilnius Piano Festival Diptych for Čiurlionis. With Čiurlionis as a central figure, the season will focus on the representation of national music – in collaboration with the Gaida Festival, a wealth of new works will be introduced, meetings with the famous performers who will present them will be held. Premieres of works by Lithuanian composers are planned in the programmes of LNPhS ensembles – Čiurlionis Quartet, Vilnius String Quartet and Musica Humana Ensemble,” says Rūta Prusevičienė, the General Director of LNPhS.

The opening of the 85th season of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society will take place on September 20. The concert Čiurlionis Code III will feature the largest Philharmonic Society’s ensemble, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by principal guest conductor Victorien Vanoosten. Polish piano star Szymon Nehring will appear as soloist. Čiurlionis Code III is a continuation of two spring season concerts dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Čiurlionis’ birth. The programme will also include music by Polish composers and Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration).

In September, to mark Čiurlionis’ birthday, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society will host the opening and closing concerts of the festival World Piano Stars Salute M. K. Čiurlionis, organized by our partners: on September 17, pianists Dmitri Levkovich and George Li will perform at the opening, and on September 22, pianists Andrew Brownell, Gustav Piekut, Szymon Nehring, Dmitry Mayboroda, and Rokas Zubovas will close the festival. 

Čiurlionis’ name will be heard many times in the National Philharmonic’s 85th season concert programmes, presented by both LNPhS resident ensembles and guest performers. An intriguing programme Dedication of Lithuanian and Ukrainian Piano Duos to the Čiurlionis Year is planned for October 12. The 9th Vilnius Piano Festival, held on November 15–29, will open with a premiere – the LNSO, conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas, will premiere Arvydas Malcys’ Dedication to Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Čiurlionis’ birth in various ways – through concerts, tours, and musical recordings,” says Pitrėnas, artistic director of the LNSO.

The 9th Vilnius Piano Festival, dedicated to Čiurlionis, will once again become an undisputed centre of attraction for piano music lovers thanks to the efforts of its artistic director, pianist Mūza Rubackytė, and will enrich the cultural life of the capital city with high-level concerts featuring renowned Lithuanian and foreign performers. The National Philharmonic Concert Hall will host the performances of Mūza Rubackytė herself, Guoda Gedvilaitė, Denis Pascal, Philippe Cassard, François-Frédéric Guy, French piano legend Jean Efflam Bavouzet, 2024 Cleveland Competition winner James (Zijian) Wei, 2024 Cleveland Competition and 2025 Van Cliburn Competition prize winner Evren Ozel, and 2022 Van Cliburn Competition prize winner Anna Geniušienė, as well as young Lithuanian talents. The festival should culminate in the long-awaited premiere of Maestro Stefan Lano’s Second Piano Concerto, dedicated to Rubackytė.  

The 85th season will feature concerts commemorating various anniversaries. On October 5, Japanese pianist Yusuke Ishii will give a recital in honour of the 120th anniversary of Vytautas Bacevičius. On October 11, Estonian musicians (Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Hans Christian Aavik, Andres Kaljuste) will perform a programme marking Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday. On November 30, the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art will celebrate its 80th anniversary with the concert Alumni Grandi. Various concerts, especially the 9th Vilnius Piano Festival, will mark the 150th anniversary of Čiurlionis’ contemporary Maurice Ravel. The LNPhS’ Musica Humana Ensemble will once again invite the music lovers to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a concert Musica Humana 50. Post Scriptum on October 15.

The LNSO, like the LNPhS, will celebrate its 85th anniversary, while the LCO will mark its 65th anniversary. The latter Orchestra will begin its 65th season on October 4 with a concert featuring artistic director, soloist and conductor Sergej Krylov and Italian cellist and composer Giovanni Sollima. Both orchestras will perform in October at the Gaida Festival, which promises impressive encounters with extraordinary soloists and conductors as well as contemporary music. Both orchestras will be heard in November at the 9th Vilnius Piano Music Festival. As every year, December will be enriched by the two orchestras’ festive programmes, for which it is worth purchasing tickets well in advance.

“Looking at the concerts offered by the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society in the first half of its 85th season, one cannot help but rejoice at the diversity of genres and occasions, the continuing partnership with various concert organizations and diplomatic missions, the interesting and conceptual programmes offered by Lithuanian performers, and the eagerly awaited meetings with famous foreign guests – from performances by our Polish and Estonian neighbours to musicians from the US and the Far East. We are also likely to enjoy performances by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and soloists Julian Rachlin, Sarah McElravy, and Alon Kariv, with their concert scheduled for December 11,” says Prusevičienė.

In appreciation of its audience’s loyalty, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society is once again offering subscription discounts for the 85th season. Concert visitors who choose three or four concerts organized by the LNPhS will be able to purchase tickets at a 25% discount, while those who choose five or more concerts will receive a 30% discount. An important exception: the discount does not apply to tickets in the lowest price category, as well as tickets for concerts that are in high demand and have special status. The subscription is valid only for events organized by the LNPhS in the National Philharmonic Concert Hall from September 17 to December 21 (except for the concert on December 21 at 12.00) and can be purchased both at the LNPhS Box Office and via kakava.lt. 

The full program for the LNPhS 85th season can be found on the website www.nationalphilharmonic.lt  We invite you to take advantage of the season ticket offer and look forward to seeing you at the concerts! LNPhS 85th concert season is sponsored by “Norfa”.