The Contemporary Music Festival “Iš Arti” has long become an integral part of the Kaunas scene, and each autumn is unimaginable without the sounds of contemporary music. This November 18th to 22nd, the “Iš Arti” Contemporary Music Festival will host five concerts, in collaboration with professional creators and partners — the Kaunas State Philharmonic, the Kaunas Artists’ House, and the Ąžuolynas Library.
The festival begins on November 18th at the Kaunas State Philharmonic with a synthesis of three vocal-contemporary music ensembles — a musical research entitled “Echo,” featuring “Melos” (Lithuania), “New Babylon” (Germany), and “Vertixe Sonora” (Spain).
On November 19th, we will celebrate the Day of Tolerance together with the group “Luvhurts.” Their performance at the Kaunas Artists’ House will feature music composed by Mantvydas Leonas Pranulis, Kornelijus Pukinskis, and Dominykas Snarskis, blending vocals, percussion, saxophone, piano, and other instruments.
On November 20th, pianist Marta Finkelštein invites you on a journey through piano miniatures, spanning over a century. In the context of the “Iš Arti” festival, this program will be complemented by a new composition created by composer Nomedas Valančiūtė.
On November 21st, an artistic project dedicated to the Jewish-origin Polish dancer Franceska Mann, who lost her life in Auschwitz, will be presented at the Ąžuolynas Library. The idea was conceived by Arkadijus Gotesmanas, choreographer Stefanija Nosovaitė, and composer Antanas Jasenka. The “Franceska Mann in Kaunas” project is dedicated to commemorate the 80th anniversary of composer Anatolijus Šenderovas.
The festival will end on November 22nd with the premiere of “Scherzo” — a piece from the four-part cycle “Stella Hermetica,” composed by Martynas Bialobžeskis and Jonas Jurkūnas. The performance will feature soprano Gunta Gelgotė, Martynas Bialobžeskis, Jonas Jurkūnas, and the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra (Art Director Mindaugas Bačkus).
Tickets are available at kakava.lt.
Contemporary music festival “Iš arti” has been held since 1997 (by the composer Dalia Kairaitytė). PI “Iš arti” was founded in 2009 by the Chairwoman of Lithuanian Composers’ Union department of Kaunas, Zita Bružaitė alongside with the local composers and musicians.
Funded by Lithuanian Council for Culture. Main partner: Kaunas State Philharmonic. Partners: Kaunas Artists’ House, Ąžuolynas Library
