The musical "The Legend of Sigismund Augustus and Barbora Radvilaitė" celebrates its 10th anniversary and invites you to a festive and exclusive anniversary show this December in Vilnius!
It decisively raised Lithuanian musicals to a new level and set the quality bar high.
For a decade, it has been trying to match it with its size, professionalism, and the impression it makes on the public. As soon as someone managed to come close, The Legend of Sigismund Augustus and Barbora Radvilaitė would surprise again with another impressive achievement.
The musical was the first Lithuanian work of this size to be staged in the United States at the historic Chicago Theatre in Chicago. It was the first in Lithuania to have a full Lithuanian-American chorus, Dainava, come to Lithuania for a performance in Kaunas, at the Žalgiris Arena in 2019. As many as 105 participants performed on stage then. "The Legend of Sigismund Augustus and Barbora Radvilaitė became the record-breaking indoor production with the most performers in the history of Lithuanian music and theatre.
The hot fashion of Juozas Statkevičius
Traditionally, 50 soloists, dancers and chorus perform on the stage of a musical. Behind the scenes, there are a second number of support staff, technicians and stagehands. The musical, which lasts more than two hours, tells the story with sensitivity, joy and drama.
The music by Kipras Mašanauskas and the libretto by Romas Lileikis are breathtaking, as are the 210 costumes created by Juozas Statkevičius . The haute couture designer has put his whole soul into the clothes of the show, as if they were his own collection. The stage design, symbolically representing the historical connection between Lithuania and Poland, was created by one of the most talented Lithuanian set designers of today, Marijus Jacovskis.
Legendary arias and famous soloists
The role of Sigismund Augustus will be played by one of the finest musical actors in Lithuania - the expressive Jeronimas Milius - in the 10th anniversary shows. His powerful voice and vocal prowess powerfully reveal the complex character of the young Sigismund.
Watching the show, you want to laugh along with the jokers (Rafailas Karpis and Dominykas Vaitiekūnas) and be moved by the weakening of Barbora Radvilaitė. She is embodied with great talent by Karina Krysko. From the very beginning, the actress and the singer showed the audience a Barbora who is fragile in appearance but incredibly strong in spirit.
The aria "Heaven has given you the height" by Mr Tvardovsky, performed by Kostos Smoriginas, is shocking to the core of the heart.
The scene of the meeting of Barbora with her aunt, Bonna Sforza, is particularly touching. The role of Queen Bonna Sforza is played by opera soloist Gitana Pečkytė-Vilkelienė.
The musical organically combines very different genres of music: opera, pop, rock and even elements of original song.
A dramatic love story
The story of Barbara Radvilaitė and Sigismund Augustus is comparable in drama with the Romeo and Juliet love saga.
The young King Sigismund Augustus ascends the throne as a child. He uses the power he did not want in Vilnius to puppet himself and win the attention of women. The only person who can advise him is his spiritual teacher, Mr Tvardovsky.
Sigismund falls far short of the expectations of his mother, the queen of Cracow, Bonn Sforza. She would like to see her son overbearing and emotionless - like herself. The Italian queen sees herself as the bearer of Western culture. No one can influence her decisions, not even her husband, King Sigismund the Old (Tadas Girininkas).
Suddenly, a true feeling is born in the heart of the young Sigismund - love for the noble Lithuanian girl Barbara, from the famous and influential Radvilas family. Barbara and Sigismund's marriage seems a real tragedy in the eyes of the Queen.
Barbora's cousin, Radvila the Black (Česlovas Gabalis), and her brother, Radvila the Brown (Tadas Juodsnukis), are at a loss as to whether they should rejoice in the upcoming crown, or fear for Barbora's health and even her life. Barbora Radvilaitė becomes his lawful wife. But it is too late - the young queen's life is barely fluttering, and the old queen Bonn's suspicion affects her like poison.
