“Open to the World” LP: First-Ever Vinyl Release of Modern Choral Music in Lithuania
Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ “Open to the World” LP record is the first of its kind in Lithuania. It features works by renowned contemporary composers such as Eric Whitacre and Ola Gjeilo and popular music specially arranged for the choir.
A special highlight of the album and vinyl is the song “In Bloom” by Kurt Cobain, the leader of the legendary US band Nirvana. Bel Canto Choir Vilnius worked with young Swedish composer Henrik Dahlgren to create a unique arrangement of this grunge track.
Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ album and vinyl showcase contemporary choral music rarely performed and recorded in Lithuania. The group strives to showcase Western choral music in an attractive and high-quality way to ensure it reaches the broadest audience possible.
Get Your Copy of Our LP
Our vinyl is limited to 500 copies. Local Mech, the online merchandise store for Lithuanian artists, distributes it. We invite you to buy! It’s easy, convenient, and safe.
The album was recorded at Studio Residence Paliesius in November 2021 by Grammy-nominated recording producer Vilius Keras and his team from Baltic Mobile Recordings, with LP cutting performed by sound engineer Sidney Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios in Berlin, Germany. Ogilvy Vilnius created the LP design; LP records were made in Germany.
Track Listing
Moonlight Sound Design
Raimonds Tiguls
From a Distance
Julie Gold, arr: Anna Abeleda-Piquero
In Bloom
Kurt Cobain, arr.: Henrik Dahlgren
Purple Rain
Prince, arr: Milda Švelnienė
Ecce Novum
Ola Gjeilo
Sleep
Eric Whitacre
Child of Wonder
Eric Whitacre
White Winter Hymnal (Live)
Robin Pecknold, arr. Pentatonix and Ben Bram
Videos
Credits
Sopranos: Lina Poškytė, Gintarė Ramana, Agnė Juodvalkė, Milda Laužikaitė, Audinga Jurgelevičienė, Lauryna Kriščiūnaitė–Kirjanovė, Elena Salamandîc–Alijošienė, Dovilė Bendžiūtė, Karolina Brazdauskytė, Rūta Kavaliauskytė, Ona Aleksiūnaitė.
Altos: Donata Sekonaitė, Agnė Bagdonavičienė, Goda Idzelytė, Jenny Holm, Emilė Indrašiūtė, Agnė Kirijakė, Aistrida Latvėnė, Jūratė Paurytė, Viktorija Pininė.
Tenors: Pranas Cirtautas, Justinas Stanevičius, Ignas Berenis, Mindaugas Rumšas, Julius Andrikonis, Evaldas Stulgaitis, Paulius Klangauskas.
Bosses: Simas Bačiulis, Simonas Girdzijauskas, Dovydas Braukyla, Andrius Gailiūnas, Arnoldas Dapkus, Žygimantas Vosylius, Artūras Bagdonavičius, Dovydas Jurgelevičius, Alfredas Miniotas.
Guest Artists: singer and guitarist Marius Beck, cellist Augustas Gocentas, pianist Motiejus Bazaras, Mettis String Quartet (musicians: Rokas Vaitkevičius, Kostas Tumosa, Bernardas Petrauskas, Karolis Rudokas).
Audio Recording: Grammy-nominated producer Vilius Keras and his team from Baltic Mobile Recordings: Vilius Keras, Evelina Bajorinienė and Aleksandra Kerienė.
LP cutting & Production: Sidney Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios, Berlin, Germany. LPs made in Germany (EU).
Design: Ogilvy.
Producers: Audrius Valatkevičius and Vilius Keras.
Artistic Team of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius: Egidijus Kaveckas and Milda Švelnienė (conductors), Raminta Gocentienė (chormaster), Eglė Stundžiaitė and Eimantas Bešėnas (vocal coaches).
Financing: recording of the “Open to the World” was funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Lithuanian Neighboring Rights Association AGATA. LP production was financed by Vilnius City Municipality (Special Thanks to Vilnius City Council members: Linas Kvedaravičius, Ieva Jagminienė and Tomas Gulbinas).
LP’s luxury packaging created exclusively for the sponsors of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius
The unique luxury vinyl packaging for the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ sponsors was specially commissioned by the choir and produced by the advertising agency Smart Solutions. Photos by Vilius Jurgelevičius.
Sponsors
The recording of the album was funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Lithuanian Neighboring Rights Association AGATA. LP production was financed by Vilnius City Municipality (Special Thanks to Vilnius City Council members: Linas Kvedaravičius, Ieva Jagminienė and Tomas Gulbinas).