AUTUMN MARKS THE HIGH POINT OF ČIURLIONIS’S JUBILEE IN CZECHIA
The celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, which began last year in the Czech Republic, will reach its climax this autumn. The Lithuanian Embassy in Prague, together with its partners, has prepared a varied program of events to honor the genius's work.
On September 13, the Czech National Radio's cultural channel Vltava will premiere a radio program about Čiurlionis during its “Weekend Special” bradcast. The program will feature a discussion about Čiurlionis and his significance with harpsichordist Giedrė Lukšaitė-Mrazkova, professor emeritus at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts, Ambassador Rolandas Kačinskas, and First Secretary Paulius Grigonis.
On September 17, the Czech Music Museum will open an exhibition entitled "Light in the Darkness. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and Czech Musical Symbolism." Visitors will be able to see fragments of Čiurlionis' works, sheet music, and reproductions of his paintings. The exhibition will run until November 14.
Location: Czech Museum of Music, Karmelitská 2, Prague
On September 23, the Czech National Radio's cultural channel Vltava will broadcast the program "Akademie". Brno Philharmonic program director and great admirer of Lithuanian music Vítězslav Mikeš will interview pianist R. Zubov, conductor M. Gražinytė-Tyla, and choir "Aidija" artistic director and conductor R. Gražinis. For his contributions to promoting Lithuanian music in the Czech Republic, Vítězslav Mikeš was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania in 2018. This radio program will also be accompanied by an article by Vítězslav Mikeš about Čiurlionis in the cultural media.
On September 30, audiences are invited to the Czech Museum of Music, where an international group of performers will open the doors to Čiurlionis’ “laboratory” and explore the dialogue between painting and music. The concert will feature Czech Philharmonic pianist Karolina Pancernaitė, who began her musical journey in Lithuania, alongside cellist Lucija Pejković and violinist Rasma Larsens. Austrian painter Marius S. Binder will translate the music into vivid brushstrokes on canvas, while concertgoers themselves will be encouraged to take part in this shared journey of sound and art.
Location: Czech Museum of Music
The concert will feature works by J. Haydn, M. K. Čiurlionis, A. Dvořák, and other composers.
The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m.
In October, the Czech Museum of Music will invite visitors to take a walk through Čiurlionis' paintings using virtual reality. For the first time in the Czech Republic, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the highly acclaimed virtual reality film "Trail of Angels". All you need to do is register online and purchase a ticket to the museum.
Location: Czech Museum of Music
Advance registration on the museum's website is required to view the film.
On October 7, at the Bohuslav Martinů Concert Hall of HAMU, musicologist and composer Charalampos Efthymiou (Greece) and pianist Eglė Andrejevaitė (Lithuania) will present an intriguing program titled “M. K. Čiurlionis: Sound and Vision.” The program will trace Čiurlionis’ artistic journey—from his studies in Warsaw and Leipzig to his development as a visionary artist—and explore the symbolism in both his music and paintings. It promises to be an evening where musical notes and brushstrokes converge, revealing Čiurlionis as a true pioneer of synesthetic art.
Venue: HAMU Bohuslav Martinů Hall, Malostranské nám. 13, Prague
The concert will begin at 5:30 p.m.
On October 21, the chamber choir “Aidija” will immerse listeners in the world of Čiurlionis' songs. The Czech Music Museum will resound with Čiurlionis' harmonized folk songs and choral works by V. Augustinas, L. Janáček, R. Gražinis, and other composers.
Venue: Czech Museum of Music
The concert will feature works by M. K. Čiurlionis, V. Augustinas, L. Janáček, and other composers.
The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m.
And in just a few days, on October 23, the choir will perform at the Moravian Autumn Festival in Brno. In addition to Čiurlionis’ songs, the program will feature his piano works and the premiere of F. Chaloupka’s opera-oratorio for clarinet, piano, soloists, and choir, commissioned specifically for the festival.
Venue: Besední dům, Husova 534/20, Brno
The concert will feature works by M. K. Čiurlionis and F. Chaloupka.
The concert starts at 7 p.m.
We invite you to the events commemorating the anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis!
