After successfully debuting its Open to the World project in 2018, Bel Canto Choir Vilnius has decided to continue it in 2020 and turn Open to the World into the choir’s signature project. Its aim is to present the world’s best choirs, composers, and artists, as well as the most beautiful modern choral music to Lithuanian audiences, while learning, making music and improving together. Open to the World 2020 will also be dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.

The first concert will take place on May 22 at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic in Vilnius, where Bel Canto Choir Vilnius will perform with Swedish choir Zero8. One of the best and most popular male-voice choirs in Sweden, Zero8 gained fame for its harmonious blend of barbershop, jazz, and pop music performances with renditions of classical choral pieces. The choir comprises over 40 singers and has won many international barbershop music awards. Last year, it represented Sweden in the Eurovision Choir competition.

On December 12-13, Bel Canto Choir Vilnius will present Christmas concerts with superstar British vocal ensemble VOCES8 at St Catherine’s Church in Vilnius. This world-renowned ensemble, which constantly performs on the world’s most famous stages, participated in Open to the World 2018. Bel Canto Choir Vilnius and VOCES8 will continue their friendship this year by presenting a new musical program at the intimate and cozy Christmas concerts.

VOCES8 has earned worldwide fame for its uniquely tuned, sensitive, aesthetic sound, engaging repertoire and active concert tours. The vocal ensemble is also well known for its educational activities. The VOCES8 Foundation is engaged in programs for children, youth and choral music education, as well as leadership and music management programs. It initiates research, supports young talents, VOCES8 singers hold singing courses at the University of Cambridge, and the unique VOCES8 Method is applied in thousands of schools all over the world.

The artistic director and conductor of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Egidijus Kaveckas, says the joint concerts with VOCES8 and Zero8 will undoubtedly enrich the choir and motivate it to continue improving.

“Sharing the stage with world’s best, such as VOCES8, as well as fascinating, highly-talented choirs like Zero8, is a special privilege. Experiences like this inspire you to learn and improve while looking for new ideas and ways to express yourself. It encourages openness to new music and to global trends in choral music. To remain both interesting and interested, performers must reject isolation and free themselves from any boundaries and dogmas that constrain creativity. I believe that’s the only path to success and continuous improvement,” says Egidijus Kaveckas.

The producer of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Audrius Valatkevičius, says that this project also seeks to change choral music in Lithuania. “We organize this project on our own, it is funded mostly by our sponsors from private capital. But the aim of Open to the World is not just a great experience for ourselves and our audience. We hope that it will inspire other choirs, their singers and the latest generation of conductors. In Lithuania, the art of choral singing isn’t popular—it’s rather abandoned and marked by archaic views. We hope this project will inspire some change,” said Audrius Valatkevičius.

More than 2,000 listeners will have the opportunity to see the Open to the World 2020 concerts live. The project’s communication is expected to reach at least 1.2 million users on social media platforms. Support from the Lithuanian National Radio and Television as well as publications from other media outlets will ensure an even wider audience reach.

Open to the World 2020

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ musical project Open to the World 2020 is a concert series featuring world-renowned British vocal ensemble VOCES8 and one of Sweden’s best male-voice choirs Zero8.

The aim of the project is to present the world’s best to Lithuanian audiences, celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, as well as to be, create, innovate and improve together.

The project is sponsored by Mitnija, one of the largest construction companies in Lithuania; Business Garden Vilnius, an office park currently under construction; and Newsec, the largest real-estate consulting company in Scandinavia and the Baltics. The information partner of the project is the LRT TV, and the advertising partner is Ogilvy.