In memoriam Bronius Kutavičius

LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
(artistic director and principal conductor Modestas Pitrėnas)
Soloists: ZBIGNEVAS IBELHAUPTAS, RŪTA RIKTERĖ (piano duo)
RIMVYDAS SAVICKAS (clarinet)
VILNIUS Choir (principal conductor Artūras Dambrauskas)
Conductor ROBERTAS ŠERVENIKAS

Programme:
BRONIUS KUTAVIČIUS Roberto demonai ir angelai (Robert’s Demons and Angels) for two pianos
Gervių šokiai (Cranes’ Dances) for two pianos and clarinet
Disputas su nepažįstamuoju (Debate with a Stranger) for two pianos and tape
Epitafija praeinančiam laikui (Epitaphium temporum pereunti) for mixed choir and orchestra

On 29 September 2021, we lost one of Lithuania’s greatest composers, Bronius Kutavičius. As noted in the presentation of the Lithuanian Music Information Centre, Kutavičius has long been recognised as one of the most important composers of contemporary Lithuanian music and a pioneer of Lithuanian minimalism. Due to its multi-layered repetitiveness and the reduction of musical material to rather elementary archetypal patterns, his music may resemble American or early European minimalism, but it sounds completely different. Kutavičius’ minimalism is his own invention, with deep roots in archaic forms of Lithuanian folk music. Kutavičius admits to discovering his creative vision and writing his first truly significant works quite late in life, when he was approaching forty.

Tonight’s programme, put together by Lithuanian musicians, features Kutavičius’ compositions that have become milestones of his original creative style. The evening will be crowned by the symphony-oratorio Epitaphium temporum pereunti (Epitaph for the Passing Time), dedicated to the most significant dates in the history of Vilnius: 1323, 1579, 1832 and 1988, which mark the historical events that are important to Lithuanians – the foundation of the city of Vilnius, the establishment of the Vilnius University and its closure, as well as the re-consecration of the Cathedral, when its status was restored in 1988.

Bronius Kutavičius perceived his work as a mission and a sacrifice: “You have to give all of yourself, as much as you can.” The explosive tension and mesmerising power encoded in his works is a clear testimony to this.