The Kaunas State Choir (dir. Robertas Šervenikas)

Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra

Conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius

Many lovers of classical music have heard the most famous opera arias in concerts, and only a few people have ever thought about the fact that the creators of the opera have left behind a treasure trove of choral works. Maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, together with Maestro Robertas Šervenikas, Artistic Director of the Kaunas State Choir, have come up with an exceptional programme of the most beautiful operatic choruses for the audience. This evening you will hear the most beautiful choruses from the incomparable masterpieces of Giussepe Verdi's (1813-1901) operas Nabucco, Il trovatore, Macbeth, Rigoletto, The Power of Fate, Don Carlo, Aida and the magnificent operas Tannhauser and Lohengrin by Richard Wagner (1813-1883). A century ago, Verdi and Wagner, the two giants of 19th-century European opera, were born in the same year, and were often compared as opposites of each other: Italian-German, popular-serious, simple-sophisticated, conservative-radical. Today, however, the uniqueness, unmistakable style and thrilling genius of these two composers harmonise not only in the world of opera, but also in this evening's concert.