Concert programme:

M. von Martinez Sonata in G major

L. van Beethoven Sonata No. 8, Op. 13

C. Schumann Three Romance Op. 21

R. Schumann Carnaval Op. 9

This is the only concert planned by R. Valuntonis in Lithuania this autumn. The audience will hear Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata No. 8, Op. 13, Robert Schumann's Carnaval, Op. 9, and his wife Clara Schumann's Three Romances, Op. 21".

"The pianist is intrigued by the fact that he has prepared Marianna von Martinez's Sonata in G major, which has probably never been heard in Lithuania before.

"We will play classical music, some of which will be heard, some of which will probably not be. The programme is also special because it juxtaposes the works of two couples - men and women - from the same era," says Valuntonis about the concert.

The 36-year-old from Panevėžys has been receiving ovations not only in the biggest concert halls in Lithuania, but also in concert halls all over Europe and in countries from other continents for many years. He has performed with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, the Lund Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Juozas Domarkas, Lutz Kohler, Donatas Katkas, Olivier Grangean, Modestas Barkauskas, etc.

Panevėžys has been invited to festivals in various countries, and has been a prize winner in more than 20 international contests. He has won the Queen Martha Prize (2004), the 1st Prize and a Bluthner piano at the International Nordic Piano Competition in Malmö, Sweden (2010), the 2nd Prize at the International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition in Vilnius (2011), the 2nd Prize at the International Piano Competition of M.), 1st Prize at the International Piano Competition "Società Umanitaria" in Milan, Italy (2013), 1st Prize and the Audience Prize at the International Piano Competition in Campiglio, Spain, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania's Young Musician Award (2020). For his high achievements in music, the pianist has been awarded with the gratitude of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and the President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite.

After accumulating knowledge and experience, the pianist has taken up pedagogical activities. As a teacher, he is involved in the prestigious City Music Foundation, a London-based artists' programme that nurtures young talent in the arts, and he gives masterclasses to students in Portugal.

Rokas was born and raised in Panevėžys. From the age of seven he studied piano at the Panevėžys Children's Music School and later at the Panevėžys Conservatory. In 2008 he graduated from the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, and from 2008 to 2014 he studied at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. The talented Panevėžys student studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, La Schola Cantorum in Paris, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He has attended master classes with renowned musicians Jerome´as Lowenthalis, Konstantinas Papadakis, Denis Pascalis, Petras Geniuša, Mūza Rubackytė.

"Panevėžys is my home, it is where I lived until the age of 16, it is where I stayed with my parents, my teachers, my relatives.I believe that many Panevezians will come to the concert to see the people who miss me."

To get to know more about Valuntonis' creative path and his biographical twists and turns will be available the day before the concert. A meeting with the famous pianist will take place at the Panevėžys Music Theatre on 4 September at 6 pm.