#LetsGoOut: Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ Christmas in the City
On two consecutive nights – unforgettable Sold Out Christmas concerts by Bel Canto Choir Vilnius & Friends!
Over the previous two years, we lived through an unprecedented global pandemic. It transformed our lives and kept us home. In 2022, even before the pandemic subsided, we also experienced anxiety and doubts about the future as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
This affects us all. We are more afraid, more anxious, and, ever more often, we stay at home. Alone.
Seeing this, we want to encourage everyone not to give in to their fears. Come and enjoy the opportunity to be together, to discover, and to support each other. Let’s experience and celebrate the most beautiful holidays of the year together. Let’s go out.
Photo Gallery
The Bel Canto Choir Vilnius and friends Christmas concerts took place on December 10 & 11, 2022 at St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius. The shows featured the choir’s good friends: soloist Lina Dambrauskaitė, pianist Motiejus Bazaras, lead vocalist of the metal band McLoud Lukas Malinauskas and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Musica Humana.
The true spirit of Christmas and Dreamweaver, an audience favorite
The concerts’ program featured works by contemporary composers Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Ola Gjeilo – favorites of both the choir and its audience – and arrangements of popular music.
The highlight of the evenings was the piece Dreamweaver by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo for choir, piano, string orchestra and soprano. It was first presented in Lithuania by Bel Canto Choir Vilnius in 2017 and was very warmly received by the audience.
Dreamweaver’s lyrics are based on the Norwegian medieval poem Draumkvedet (The Dream Poem), an epic ballad with many similarities to Dante’s Divine Comedy.
The poem’s protagonist, Olav Åsteson, falls asleep on Christmas Eve and does not wake up until the twelfth day of Christmas. Upon waking, he goes to church and tells the congregation about his dream – a brave, frightening and ultimately redeeming journey through the afterlife.
Poet Charles Anthony Silvestri, in collaboration with composer Ola Gjeilo, has playfully adapted the epic poem for Dreamweaver.
Concert Program
Aperol Spritz
McLoud, arr. Henrik Dahlgren
Hurt
Trent Reznor, arr. Eric Whitacre
O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen
Dreamweaver
Ola Gjeilo
Amazing Grace
William Walker, arr. Rasmus Krigström
This is My Song
Jean Sibelius, arr. Blake Morgan
White Winter Hymnal
Robin Pecknold, arr. Pentatonix
Jingle Bells
James Lord Pierpont, arr. Bob Chilcott
Performers
Bel Canto Choir Vilnius (artistic director Egidijus Kaveckas), Musica Humana Chamber Orchestra of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic (artistic director Robertas Beinaris), Lina Dambrauskaitė (soprano), Motiejus Bazaras (piano). Lukas Malinauskas (metal band McLoud).
Bel Canto Choir Vilnius is led by artistic director and conductor Egidijus Kaveckas, second conductor and choirmaster Milda Švelnienė, choirmaster Raminta Gocentienė, and vocal coaches Eglė Stundžiaitė-Bešėnienė and Eimantas Bešėnas. The choir and the concert are produced by Audrius Valatkevičius.
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