Re-writing the history of Lithuanian choral music

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, the best volunteer choir in Lithuania, rocked the country’s choral music scene again by staging two sold out concerts at Lithuanian National Philharmonics. For two days in a row – on November 30 and on December 1, 2014 – Bel Canto Choir Vilnius performed its Christmas and 5th anniversary concert, entitled This is the Only Night, at Lithuanian National Philharmonics. More than 1400 spectators attended the concerts.

The choir was aided by the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (artistic director Sergei Krylov); soloists Joana Gedmintaitė, Ieva Prudnikovaitė, Lina Dambrauskaitė and Milda Baronaitė; as well as jazz pianist Artūras Anusauskas.

The two-part concert featured an exclusive music program combining the choir’s favorite classical, modern and Christmas pieces as well as special musical premieres. The cornerstone of Bel Canto’s Christmas Concert was a special premiere: the special performance of the Sunrise Mass – a four-part piece for choir and strings written by Ola Gjeilo, one of the world’s most popular Norwegian contemporary composers.

The concert was directed by Petras Skirmantas and presented by Livija Gradauskienė and musicologist Viktoras Gerulaitis.

Photographer Vytautas Dranginis captured these great moments from the concert, as well as emotions at the sound check rehearsal; at the backstage, and in the faces of our great audience.