Anticipation of Christmas

Performers:
ĄŽUOLIUKAS Boys’ and Youth Choir
Artistic director and principal conductor VYTAUTAS MIŠKINIS
Choirmasters: Romas Skapas, Gitana Trimirkaitė, Neringa Sidaugaitė, Gabrielė Bilevičiūtė
4th grade choir of Vilnius ĄŽUOLIUKAS Music School
Director EGLĖ ČIGRIEJŪTĖ-STROLIENĖ
Accompanist LORETA KULIEŠIUVIENĖ (piano)
EGIDIJUS ALIŠAUSKAS (birbynė)
AISTĖ BRUŽAITĖ (kanklės)
SAULIUS AUGLYS (percussion)
RIMVYDAS MITKUS (keyboards, organ)
VERONIKA POVILIONIENĖ (voice, narrator)

Programme:
Vytautas Miškinis, Gintautas Venislovas, Vaclovas Augustinas, Leonidas Abaris, Algirdas Klova, storytelling, improvisations

The concert of Ąžuoliukas, which has become a tradition on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, will this year delight with Lithuanian folk motifs. The Boys’ and Youth Choir Ąžuoliukas, its artistic director and principal conductor Vytautas Miškinis, will collaborate with a quartet of Lithuanian folk instruments – Egidijus Ališauskas (birbynė), Aistė Bružaitė (kanklės), Saulius Auglys (percussion) and Rimvydas Mitkus (keyboard).

For Lithuanians, Christmas was not only a Christian holiday due to the long-standing pagan worship of nature. The traditions and songs of the celebrations also include nature motifs – trees, forests, birds, animals and plants. Miškinis’ arrangements for mixed choir and Lithuanian folk instruments will offer the listeners elaborated versions of the songs.

In addition to traditional Lithuanian folk songs, there will also be original Christmas compositions by Gintautas Venislovas, Vaclovas Augustinas, Leonidas Abaris and Algirdas Klova. We will also hear works for folk instruments and stories by Veronika Povilionienė, accompanied by keyboard improvisations.