Bel Canto & St. Christopher Orchestra premiered its Expo 2015 performance in Vilnius

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius & Vilnius City Municipality ‘s St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra invited to a cozy chamber concert, entitled Our Music to the World, where the Choir and the Orchestra premiered their Expo 2015 musical program, which will represented Lithuania at the major National Day concert at Expo 2015.

The musical program of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius and the St. Christopher Orchestra presented Lithuania as a country with a deep and distinctive music tradition, but open to innovation and contemporary musical trends, and willing and able to experiment, create and surprise.

The St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra performed works of famous Lithuanian composers, such as Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Jonas Tamulionis and Osvaldas Balakauskas. Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ performance featured authentic Lithuanian music, harmoniously combined with jazz, blues, electronic and rap-style music, as well as stylish choreography.

At the major concert on Lithuanian National Day at Expo 2015, Bel Canto Choir Vilnius performed Neišeik, Saulala by Vytautas Miškinis, one of world’s most famous Lithuanian contemporary choral composers. The Choir also sang authentic Lithuanian songs, arranged by Jonas Tamulionis, Giedrius Svilainis and Robertas Varnas. Some of works were presented differently, with a tasteful combination of jazz and blues. The Choir also performed unique Lithuanian sutartinė folk songs protected by UNESCO, which were presented along with electronic music specifically created by composer Jonas Jurkūnas.

The Lithuanian premiere of the musical program by the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra & Bel Canto Choir Vilnius for Lithuanian National Day at the Expo 2015 took place on Monday, June 1 at St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius.

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius and St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra represented Lithuania at Expo 2015, which started in May 2015 and lasted for six months in Milan, Italy. The Choir and the Orchestra performed at the key event of Lithuania’s National Day at Expo 2015 on July 15. The performance took place at Expo 2015 major concert hall, which accommodates more than 1,000 spectators. The preparation and performance of the Lithuanian National Day programme at the Expo 2015 was organized by the Lithuanian Folk Culture Center.

Singers & Musicians

Vilnius City Municipality’s St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra (Artistic Director Donatas Katkus), Bel Canto Choir Vilnius (Artistic Director Artūras Dambrauskas), Soloist Lina Dambrauskaitė, Pianist Artūras Anusauskas, Sacsofonist Vytautas Labutis, Skrabalai (Lithuania’s folk instrument) Regimantas Šilinskas. Composer Jonas Jurkūnas.