Performers:

Lauryna Bendžiūnaitė (soprano, Lithuania/Germany)

Leszek Wachnik (bassoon, Poland)

St Christopher Chamber Orchestra (Artistic Director and Conductor – Modestas Barkauskas)

Magdalena Karolak (oboe, Poland)

Gustav Friedrich (oboe, Germany)

Stefano Berluti (French horn, Lithuania/Italy)

Andrea Mugnaini (French horn, Italy)

Conductor and harpsichordist – Trevor Pinnock (United Kingdom)

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This concert is a tribute to Mother’s Day. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s (1756–1791) compositions are offerings – keepsakes for mothers – capturing dedication, vibrancy, beauty, fidelity, creativity, and delight.

Wolfgang’s mother, Anna Maria Pertl (1720–1778), had seven children, yet only two reached adulthood: Wolfgang and Maria Anna (1751–1829), who likewise possessed remarkable musical talent. The mother’s relationship with her them was exceptionally close; she tenaciously guided both into the musical world and exerted a profound influence on Wolfgang.

Although the composer lived only 35 years, his artistic legacy is immense. The concert features music ranging from his debut symphony, written when he was only eight, to the sophisticated opuses penned in his early thirties.

Through this event, Vilnius Old Theatre strengthens its ties with Trevor Pinnock – an illustrious British harpsichordist and conductor who has helped lead Europe’s early music resurgence. He remains dedicated to performing on historical instruments and striving for the genuine sound of past eras. The concert will spotlight authentic wind instruments. Artists adept in such instruments will travel from Poland, Germany, and Italy specifically for this event. For instance, the bassoon concerto will be performed by Leszek Wachnik on an authentic Mozart-era instrument, and the St Christopher Chamber Orchestra will use historical bows.

You can expect top-tier artistry that has delighted the most prestigious concert halls and theatres across the globe. Prepare for captivating performances, genuine historical sound, and the superb acoustics of Vilnius Old Theatre, perfectly suited to this repertoire.

Keepsakes for Mama. Mozart is a splendid opportunity to share a meaningful and festive May Sunday afternoon at the Theatre with your loved ones. Once spring has thrown open all its doors wide...

Vilnius Old Theatre, a diverse and multilingual stage, supports and cultivates the array of cultural traditions rooted in Vilnius. In its 111^th season, revisiting its storied past and enduring musical legacy, the Theatre offers concerts and distinctive musical repertoires.

Programme:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 1 in E-flat major, K. 16 (1764): Molto allegro, Andante, Presto

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Aria L'amerò, sarò costante from the opera Il re pastore (K. 208, Act II; 1775)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525; 1787)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – The Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K. 191/186e (1774)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Aria Ruhe sanft from the opera Zaide (K. 344; 1780)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 10 in G major, K. 74 (1770): Allegro, Andante, Allegro

Trevor Pinnock (b. 1946) is a world-renowned harpsichordist, conductor, and pioneer of the early music revival in Europe. In 1972, he founded The English Concert, a Baroque ensemble playing on 17^th- and 18^th- century instruments, which he led until 2003. Pinnock has also recorded numerous solo works, including Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Partitas. His recent releases feature The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach, and Józef Koffler’s unique reworking of the Goldberg Variations. Pinnock is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra. He regularly collaborates with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. He also serves as Artistic Director of Pisa’s Anima Mundi Festival and Principal Conductor of the Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra in Tokyo. In 1992, Pinnock was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and in 1998 – the Order of Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres).

Lauryna Bendžiūnaitė (b. 1981) is an opera singer (soprano). A graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, she also completed her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Bendžiūnaitė has performed at the Opéra National du Rhin, the Royal Swedish Opera, Vilnius City Opera, the Stuttgart State Opera, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, Lucerne Festival’s concert hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, Malmö Live, and Tokyo’s Kioi Hall. She collaborates with the Hamburg Symphony, the Netherlands Philharmonic, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Lithuanian State and National Symphony orchestras, as well as the Malmö Symphony, the Basel Chamber, The English Concert, and the Stuttgart Chamber orchestras. Bendžiūnaitė’s extensive repertoire ranges from pieces by Henry Purcell to some of the most demanding works of the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

The Vilnius City Municipality St Christopher Chamber Orchestra is led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Modestas Barkauskas, with Donatas Katkus as Honorary Conductor. It was founded in 1994, fulfilling Donatas Katkus’s vision of establishing a Baroque ensemble. Back then, Lithuania had very limited experience performing music from this period. Today, the orchestra stands out for its remarkable stylistic versatility, polished execution, and inventive musicianship. Renowned both as a Baroque orchestra and a champion of rare scores, the ensemble is celebrated in Lithuania and beyond. It captivates audiences in world-famous venues such as the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, Symphony Hall in Boston, the John F. Kennedy Center in Chicago, Harpa in Reykjavík, the Berwald Hall in Stockholm, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, and Royal Palace in Warsaw. Beyond classical stages, the St Christopher Chamber Orchestra is also sought after at contemporary music festivals and popular music stages.