“Writing a Violin Concerto has always been a lifelong dream of mine. As a violinist, I spent my early years immersed in the “standard” violin repertoire, and the countless hours of practice deeply embedded these sounds into my mind and body. When I began my journey as a composer, my dear violin, inherited from my father, remained a steadfast companion. It has traveled with me throughout my life – across Lithuania, during my international studies, and later to England, where I studied at the Royal Academy of Music and had the privilege of caring for precious instruments, including Stradivarius and Guarneri violins. Today, it lives with me in Scotland, where we continue our journey through avant-garde and experimental sounds, traveling the world together. This Violin Concerto weaves together these life experiences, the iconic sounds of Sibelius, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky’s violin concertos, and my own unique interest in ancient tribal music – its artifacts, and its meaning and power within early communities. It marks my journey as a composer toward maturity and reflects one of my deepest ambitions: to contribute to making the world a better place. I hope to create a transformative experience for the audience – guiding them through the depths of pain and tranquility, and ultimately allowing them to emerge with greater wisdom to carry into the world.” – Rūta Vitkauskaitė

This project was produced by the Lithuanian Composers’ Union, funded by the Lithuanian Culture Council, and supported by AIR – Artist in Residence in Krems (Austria), the Arvo Pärt Centre (Estonia), and DAR Residency, co-produced by Gaida Festival and presented by the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.