15 September 2024 The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre will host a screening of Jonas Mekas's final film Requiem, a live performance of Verdi's Requiem, organised in collaboration with the Contemporary Art Centre. The idea to perform the Requiem live to Verdi's monumental work was conceived by the artist himself, and so far the work has only been performed once before in this form in the world, at The Shed, an art space in New York, which, together with one of the world's most famous curators, Hans Ulrich Obrist, was the commissioning partner for the work. Curated by Edvardas Šumila, the event will take place on the occasion of the Jonas Mekas Poetry Day initiated by the Pompidou Centre in Paris (each year, the day is dedicated to a different eminent personality), and is being joined by many institutions in France, Lithuania and around the world. In this way, the event also contributes to the initiatives of the Lithuanian season in France. Verdi's opus, which inspired John Mack himself, will also receive an exceptional performance; the LNOBT Orchestra and Choir will be conducted by Chief Conductor Ričardas Šumila, and the soloists will be performed by some of the most prominent Lithuanian soloists, including Viktorija Miškūnaitė, Justina Gringytė, Edgaras Montvidas and Kostas Smoriginas. The event is part of the World Poetry Day initiated by the Pompidou Centre for Arts and Culture in Paris and dedicated this year to Jonas Mekas. The event is part of the Lithuanian season in France.