G. Faurè REQUIEMThe concert programme will feature striking works by the 9th century French and German composers G. Faurè and R. Wagner, performed by the Panevėžys Musical Theatre Choir and Orchestra conducted by Erki Pehk, the Šiauliai State Chamber Choir "Polifonija", and the soloists Salomėja Petronytė (soprano) and Arminas Skirvainis (baritone).

"The music in the concert has a deep and light subtext, with which we want to reinforce our faith in the coming victory of justice. The ongoing war is not forgotten, the sad thoughts of it are with us every day, so with this inspiring and extremely beautiful music we will sing hope and pray for peace. 24 February is also the birthday of my homeland, so the concert programme reflects a diverse but sincere range of feelings, filled with celebratory joy, sorrow, light, gratitude and faith," said E. Pehk, conductor of the Panevėžys Music Theatre Orchestra.

Richard Wagner's Siegfried's Idyll, written in 1870, is a delicate and sensitive work marking a significant and luminous event in the composer's life - the birth of his son Siegfried - and dedicated to his wife Cosima Wagner.

Gabriel Faurè's Requiem, performed by two choirs, orchestra, and soloists, is one of the composer's most famous and most impressive opuses, begun in 1887 and finished in 1990. It is believed that Faurè honoured the memory of his father, who died in 1885, with this 7-movement work. 

Erki Pehkas, who will be conducting the concert, has been the conductor of the Panevėžys Musical Theatre Orchestra since last year. Pehkas conducted the Estonian National Opera in Tallinn from 1994 to 2011 and taught at the Tallinn Music College. Since 2001 he has been the artistic director of the Klaudia Taev International Competition for Young Opera Soloists and the PromFest International Opera Music Festival in Pernou.

Soloist S. Petronytė (soprano) graduated from the M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts with a degree in singing (class of Prof. V. Noreika) and choral conducting. She is currently studying at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre for a Master's degree in chamber singing (class of Prof. A. Janutas). S. Petronytė has studied with renowned performers and teachers Barbro Marklund (Norway), Kristian Attila (Finland), Lilija Šukytė (Lilian Sukis; Lithuania, Germany), Edgars Montvidas. 

Soloist Arminas Skirvainis (baritone) has been singing at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet since 2020, and he has prepared over ten roles. Chamber music also plays an important role in his musical career. The soloist is constantly deepening his knowledge in masterclasses and has worked with such professionals as Thomas Hampson, Carmen Santoro, Thomas E. Bauer and others. 

The Šiauliai State Chamber Choir Polifonija (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor L. Balandis) is one of the most famous professional choirs of Lithuania. Its most recent awards include 1st prize at the International Orthodox Sacred Music Competition "Hajnówka" (Poland) in September 2021, 1st prize for academic music and Grand Prix for sacred music performance at the 2023 choir competition "Golden Voices of Montserrat" (Spain).