Music reminiscent of great movies, exotic rhythms, famous faces in unexpected roles, impressive video projection towers like obelisks - the program "The Tale of a Gifted Heart" by the "Lietuva" ensemble, which moved you to the core, is back. After a successful premiere, the musical drama will be revived even stronger in 2023. in August, in the very heart of Trakai - in the castle of Trakai Island. Viewers are invited to travel to the times of Vytautas the Great and see with their own eyes a living, modernly revealed legend of two nations.
"A wonderful sight! Both the place and the work, where aesthetics, original solutions, technologies, video art, dance and music fit together. How authentic it is to experience this story in the courtyard of Trakai Castle, living in the island surrounded by legends. An impressive combination, there is room for everything here. High level, every detail is thought out. A wonderful work by wonderful Lithuanian creators", - the audience's impressions after the premiere in 2022. in August.
In this musical performance, such heroes as Vytautas the Great, the emissary of King Jogaila, Karaims, the Grand Duke's confidants, and other historical figures, embodied by Vytautas Rumšas senior, Rafailas Karpis, Andrius Bialobžeskis, Ilja Gun, Rasa Serra, Valentinas Krulikovskis, Severina Špakovska, Aistė, are reborn in a modern form. Benkauskaitė, Donatas Kaikaris, ensemble "Lietuva" and guest musicians. The musical drama directed by Dalias Abaris is a joint project of the ensemble, the Lithuanian Karaite Cultural Society and the Trakai History Museum.
"The Tale of the Gifted Heart" was created specifically to commemorate the year of the Lithuanian Karaites - it was 625 years ago, when Grand Duke Vytautas invited this people to their common home in Lithuania. As is known from historical sources, the Karaim formed one of the elite infantry units of the LDK, had an impact on our victory in the Battle of Žalgiris, and were loyal and devoted. Trusting each other unconditionally, Lithuanians and Karaites built a state together and are a good example of how peoples of different religions and worldviews coexist to this day.
According to the creative team, the atmosphere of the performance created in a modern way and the modern execution will surprise again with its authenticity, unusual solutions of the stage, lights, video projections and modern dance, recognizable symbols, and a story that is not characteristic of performances.
"In the performance, sound and image intertwine somewhat unconventionally. As usual, the main characters, soloists, choir and musicians are not on the stage, we hear them and see them episodically in the videographic space, while the dancers take over the stage. The action of the play is not limited to one action space, so the audience will not see a traditional covered stage. We are taking a risk by staging a performance without a roof, so that the facades of the courtyard of Trakai Castle, like a historical echo, create a background for a modern multimedia scenography", said D. Abaris, 2021, before the premiere. awarded the "Golden Cross of the Stage" as the best Lithuanian director for the production of the opera "The Flying Dutchman".
"It's not like a stage play or a re-enactment of a historical film. The idea itself is important to us - how to reflect values, reveal people's transformations and relationships, how to look differently at the sensual and emotional sides through movement. The whole language of dance and music is a deeper, multi-layered interpretation, and choreography is the foundation of it all. It is also important that our building reflects the 21st century. a person's look at the past, what it means to us and how we understand it now", said Agnija Šeiko, one of the choreographers of the musical drama, three times awarded with the "Golden Cross of the Stage".
The organizers and creators of "The Tale of a Gifted Heart", having evaluated the premiere in the courtyard of Trakai Castle, were convinced that moving a project of this scale to the closed spaces of other cities would harm the monumental image and the very idea of the performance. Therefore, all previously planned performances in other cities are moved only to Trakus, and viewers who have previously purchased tickets can use them in the rescheduled performances in 2023. in August.
It was not by chance that Trakai was chosen to show the program - it has become the Mecca of the Karaites. In Lithuania, the Karaites are a rapidly disappearing nation, so it is hoped that "The Tale of the Gifted Heart" will remain for future generations as a musical monument, perpetuating the common history. The descendants of Karaim are immortalized in the course of a musical performance.
The storyline intrigues with magnificent scenes of struggle, mutual sacrifice and love. The performance is bilingual - Lithuanian and Karaim with translation. As Linas Rimša, the composer of the story and the author of the idea, describes, the music is created on the theme of "World music", where the oriental sounds of Asia intertwine with operatic voices. Along with electronic music, various percussion, string and national instruments sound live.
The patron of the project is the Lithuanian National UNESCO Commission. The project is partially financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania and the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The project partners are Trakai District Municipality and Trakai History Museum. Sponsors – UAB Layher Baltic, UAB Nemuno banga, AB Lietkabelis, UAB Litana, UAB Sigmaris.
