26 September (Friday), 19.00
Church of St. Johns, Šv. Jono g. 12, Vilnius

PERFORMERS

Lithuanian Symphonic Wind Orchestra
Karolis Variakojis, conductor
Benas Jonušas, organ

P R O G R A M M E

Olivier Messiaen, Apparition de l’Église éternelle / Apparition of the Eternal Church, arranger David J. Miller (1932/2012)

Olivier Messiaen, L’Ascension / Ascension Day for organ (1933)

·        Alléluias sereins d’une âme qui désire le ciel / Serene Alleluias of a Soul that Longs for the Heavens

·        Transports de joie d’une âme devant la gloire du Christ qui est la sienne / Outbursts of Joy From a Soul Before the Self-Fulfilling Glory of Christ

Olivier Messiaen, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum / And I await the Resurrection of the Dead (1964)

•    Des profondeurs de l’abîme, je crie vers toi, Seigneur: Seigneur, écoute ma voix! / Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!

•    Le Christ, ressuscité des morts, ne meurt plus; la mort n’a plus sur lui d’empire / Christ, risen from the dead, no longer dies; death has no dominion over him

•    L’heure vient où les morts entendront la voix du Fils de Dieu… / The time comes when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God…

•    Ils ressusciteront, glorieux, avec un nom nouveau – dans le concert joyeux des étoiles et les acclamations des fils du ciel / They shall rise again in glory, with a new name—in the joyful music of the stars and the acclamations of the sons of heaven

•     Et j’entendis la voix d’une foule immense… / And I heard the sound of a great crowd…

Olivier Messiaen is one of the most prominent French composers of the 20th century and modern music figure. Much of Messiaen’s work was inspired by his deeply held Christian faith, with religious themes and symbols reflected abundantly in his compositions. The relationship of man, nature and the divine, the quest for transcendence and heavenly light permeate the composer’s entire oeuvre. Wind instruments play an important role in Messiaen’s style. The composer wrote a number of works for large wind and percussion ensembles. One of them, Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum (And I await the Resurrection of the Dead), is a monumental work featuring a powerful and massive sound, and will be performed for the first time in Lithuania. The title of the work is based on texts from the church liturgy, and the music conveys apocalyptic visions and a message of hope of the Resurrection. Like most of Messiaen’s other works, its performance requires an exceptionally high level of skill. The concert will also feature two parts from Messiaen’s work L’Ascension (Ascension Day) for the organ and performed by the young organist, Benas Jonušas.