Free Concert for Ukrainians and Lithuanians Who’ve Helped Them
On 13 May, all Ukrainians residing in Lithuania and the Lithuanians who are helping them are welcome to attend a free concert of classical music which will offer performances by Ukrainian pianist Alexey Botvinov, who has visited many countries around the world, and the ensemble Lietuva, which represents Lithuanian culture. The title of the concert is symbolic: Après Un Rêve (After a Dream). This piece by French composer Gabriel Fauré will be performed by Botvinov and Lietuva’s soloist Dovilė Kazonaitė (soprano).
The concert can also be attended by anyone who purchases a ticket. Moreover, instead of buying a ticket, it is possible to select a donation on the kakava.lt website. The funds collected for the tickets and the donations will be used to provide psychological support for the people still in Ukraine who have suffered from war and are facing anxiety, panic, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Support will also be provided for the victims of sexual assault, children and teenagers.
The concert is organised by the Andrei Sakharov Research Center for Democratic Development. Its head, Prof. Robert van Voren, says: “The current situation in the world is reminiscent of a terrible, bleak dream. It makes one wish for everyone to wake up from it as soon as possible. We believe that it will happen. With this concert, we aim for both Ukrainians and the Lithuanians who have welcomed them to their homes or helped them otherwise to be able to forget the troubles of war for at least one evening, to be together, relax, and listen to great classical music”.
The event will be hosted on a voluntary basis by TV and radio show host Richard Jonaitis and Kira Bozhevska from Ukraine. The musical performances will also be given for free.
“I don’t know anyone who is not worried about the aggressor’s actions in Ukraine, which are difficult to comprehend. At the same time, it is a great pride to see the empathy and all the efforts our people have put in to help the Ukrainians. The Lietuva ensemble is not an exception, so, naturally, it expresses support by joining the concert. We discussed it with Prof. Robert Van Voren in early March. We share common values and the understanding that no one has the right to threaten a country’s freedom and a nation’s ethnos, identity. These messages are clearly expressed in the ensemble’s repertoire, a part of which will be played at the upcoming support concert”, the head of the Lietuva ensemble, Edita Katauskienė, said.
Alexey Botvinov has already performed in over 45 countries. He has been cooperating with the Sakharov Center for a number of years; however, this year their friendship has acquired additional significance. Fans of classical music appreciate Botvinov as the only pianist in the world who has performed Johann Sebastian Bach’s complex Goldberg Variations over 300 times. This has been recognised as a world record. Botvinov has also received awards at Clara Schuman and Johann Sebastian Bach competitions in Germany and at Sergei Rachmaninoff Competition in Moscow.
At the VMU Great Hall in Kaunas, Botvinov will perform works by Ukrainian composers Valentin Silverstrov, Miroslav Skoryk and Alemdar Karamanov, as well as pieces by Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms and Jan Freidlin.
Another performer at the concert will be the ensemble Lietuva, whose latest programs reveal the country’s vivid history and national identity, which has never been more important. Through the fusion of different musical genres and unique productions of dance, music, and theatre, the ensemble is constantly seeking innovative sounds of folk music.
First, the audience will hear orchestral pieces by Lietuva from the French-inspired program A Kiss from France. Works by Georges Bizet, Leo Delibes, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel will be performed. Solo performers will include sopranos Dovilė Kazonaitė and Ilona Pliavgo and dancer Aušra Krasauskaitė. Chief conductor is Dr. Egidijus Kaveckas.
Lietuva will also perform pieces for a choir from the collage opera Mažvydas (directed by Kęstutis Jakštas, libretto by Arnas Ališauskas, composed by Jonas Jurkūnas). The choir will be joined by famous actor and performer Giedrius Arbačiauskas, who played the main role of Mažvydas. The event will conclude with the ensemble’s and Alexey Botvinov’s joint performance of a Ukrainian piece.
The support concert Après Un Rêve will take place on Friday 13 May, 7 p.m., at the VMU Great Hall. Free tickets for Ukrainians and those who help them: https://bit.ly/37WXRCp Tickets can be purchased and donations can be made here: https://bit.ly/3873MVj
