2 act opera in Lithuanian
Libretto by Eduardas Balsys based on the short story of the same name by Hermann Sudermann

The classic love triangle and the unexpectedly tragic ending of one family's story in the short story "Journey to Tilžė" by the German writer Hermann Sudermann, born in Klaipėda, became the basis for one of the most dramatic and amazing journeys not only in the history of Lithuanian literature, but also in the history of Lithuanian opera. The only opera by Eduardas Balsis, based on one of Sudermann's novels and written in 1980, tells the story of the beautiful and hard-working life of Anso, Indre and their three children in a fishing village. The idyll of the family is shattered by the appearance of a seductive mercenary, Bu&scaron, who not only turns Anso's head with her warlike temperament, but also persuades him to drown his wife on their journey along the Neris River on the way to Tilžė. His plan is destined to fail, because on the journey Anse discovers that the most beautiful and charming woman he has ever met is the meek Indre, but their happiness is still lost in the uncontrollable elements.
So the opera "Journey to Tilžė" is not about distances covered or happiness achieved, but rather about the inner journey of loving people towards each other, their discoveries and their mistakes.
The Klaipėda State Music Theatre's production brought the opera to new life and completed the cycle of events dedicated to the anniversary of the 20th-century Lithuanian music classic Eduardas Balsis (1919–1984), which contributed to the broader promotion of the work of the composer, who grew up in the coastal region. The opera's musical material was edited for this production by his pupil, the renowned composer Giedrius Kuprevičius.