FELIKSAS BAJORAS

"Sakmių siuita" (words of Lithuanian folk)

Vocal cycle "Why" (words of Janina Degutytė)

Variations "Ugdė matutė" (words of Lithuanian folk)

"Triptik" (words by Marcelijus Martinaitis)

Daunes from the collection "Tu, Cherry Tree"

FELIKSAS BAJORAS - one of the most prominent personalities in the history of Lithuanian music - has just celebrated his 90th birthday. He is an unpredictable, uncompromising composer who surprises with his original twists on traditional genres and forms, and his highly distinctive combinations of ethnic and contemporary music. Bajoras is a true national composer. The composer confesses the search for the nation's identity as the most important goal of his work. The composer's music has an intuitive and deep connection with the native language, conveying the distinctive aura of the Lithuanian nation.

 GIEDRĖ KAUKAITĖ is a prominent Lithuanian singer of the second half of the 20th century, who has played prominent leading roles in opera, and is the first to have performed many of the opuses of the Lithuanian composers and of F. Bajoras's early vocal music, such as songs and vocal cycles. The singer popularised these works both in Lithuania and all over the world: in Poland, Germany, Sweden, France and the United States. Talentedly combining professionally perfected classical singing with the authentic manner of a folk singer, G. Kaukaitė has created a distinctive tradition of interpretation, and has turned the trends of music creation and performance towards a deeper understanding of national identity. Musicologist, Professor Juozas Antanavičius says: "Carrying Lithuanian music all over the world, G. Kaukaitė presented it as a precious piece of amber with enigmatic inclusions of the signs of Lithuanianness." "Kaukaitė's epoch", said F. Bajoras, describing not only his own golden age, but also the golden age of Lithuanian vocal music. And musicologist Edmundas Gedgaudas said: "F. Bajoras masterfully alternates masks in his work - a component of theatre art! Among his associates, G. Kaukaite holds a special place - together they discover and nurture the nature and style of voice, tone, narration.

 In this concert, G. Kaukaitė will become a moderator-narrator, sharing memories from the golden age of Lithuanian vocal music, and she will also present an original piece by F.

EGLĖ ŠLIMAITĖ is a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, winner of the 1st Prize of the Vincė Jonuškaitė Zaunienė Competition, and has completed a traineeship at the National Academy of St Cecilia in Rome (Italy) and at the International Opera Singing Courses in Beskov (Germany). During her studies, she took part in productions of Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff, Giacomo Puccini's Gianni Sicchi and Franz Schreker's The Flame.

SIMONA LIAMO is a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, laureate of the international competition "Premio Scarlatti", collaborates with the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, performs with the early music ensemble Musica Humana, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, the contemporary music ensemble Synaesthesis, the Čiurlionis Quartet and others. Her repertoire covers a wide variety of styles and eras, and a large part of her repertoire consists of works by Lithuanian composers.

KRISTINA ŽALDOKAITĖ is a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with a degree in jazz studies.She has attended gospel choir masterclasses in Stockholm (Sweden), studied pastoral theology at the Emanuel Community Mission School in Rome (Italy), and has taken part in numerous contemporary music festivals in Lithuania, where she has sung the premiere of works by Feliks Bajoras, Loreta Narvilaitė, Algirdas Martinaitis, and Jonas Jurkūnas. K. Žaldokaitė is a member of the Vilnius St.

JUSTAS ČEPONIS is a concert pianist at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Paris National School of Music and Dance. He performs in Lithuania and around the world as a soloist, member of various ensembles and concertmaster of renowned performers, collaborates with Vilnius City Opera and the Netherlands' Travelling Opera.