Thursday, 3 October, 19.00
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, Vilniaus g. 6-1, Vilnius
PERFORMERS
LITHUANIAN SYMPHONIC WIND ORCHESTRA (chief conductor Karolis Variakojis, artistic director Leif Karlsson)
JOHAN DE MEIJ (Netherlands), conductor
MINDAUGAS BAČKUS (cello, Lithuania), soloist
PROGRAMME
Giacomo Puccini La Fanciulla del West (arranger Johan De Meij)
Johan De Meij Casanova (soloist Mindaugas Bačkus, cello)
***
Johan De Meij American Prelude
Johan De Meij Symphony No. 2 The Big Apple: A New York Symphony
Johan De Meij’s visit to Vilnius is a special event in Lithuania’s cultural context. The concert programme will playfully blend the musical traditions of two continents – North America and Europe. In the early 20th century, America became a synonym for the New World and a source of inspiration for many artists. Interestingly, the Italian composer, Giacomo Puccini, wrote an opera on this theme called La Fanciulla del West, based on Carlo Zangarini’s play The Girl of the Golden West. The playful flirtation with the opera’s suite can also be recognised in De Meij’s composition Casanova, which will be performed by Lithuanian cello virtuoso, Mindaugas Bačkus, together with the orchestra. In addition, the audience will hear a special opus, Meij’s Second Symphony, The Big Apple: A New York Symphony. In this monumental work, the sounds of the big city are transformed into a dense musical drama, while the colours of the large symphonic wind orchestra create an interplay of, as yet, unheard harmonies.
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