GEDIMINAS GELGOTAS

To commemorate the Coronation Day of King Mindaugas of Lithuania, composer and conductor Gediminas Gelgotas created a unified musical structure (“medley”). G. Gelgotas‘ music is captivating a new and younger audience of classical music. His works has been presented at many prestigious classical music festivals and concerts halls across Europe. Critics point to a unique and highly attractive musical language based on modern, multi-stylistic influences that combine austere, melodic beauty with a stunning rhythmic drive. Gelgotas was the composer in residence at Verbier Festival in 2014 where he was presented with Neva Foundation Prize.
“When working on this composition for a special occasion, I wanted to reveal, to reflect through music a broader portrait of our nation, thus the composition is full of contrasts. I selected my more rhythmic and more temperamental works, combined them with Čiurlionis’ ingenious arrangements of Lithuanian folk songs, and finished the whole composition with the National Anthem in, perhaps, a little more animated tempo than it is usually performed”, G. Gelgotas shared his thoughts on the uniqueness of the composition. Along with G. Gelgotas’ original music (Higher Energy, Concerto for Violin, To the Skies, Never Ignore the Cosmic Ocean), the new opus features fragments of M.K. Čiurlionis’ arrangements of Lithuanian folk songs (Beauštanti aušrelė; Oi giria, giria). Dedicated to the Lithuanian State Day this composition is performed by an exceptional line-up of performers: mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė, one of the brightest and most titled soloists of today’s opera; soloists of the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra NICO; the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and Vilnius City Municipality Choir Jauna Muzika. Conductor Gediminas Gelgotas.