The great Lithuanian soprano Violetta Urmana is unfortunately no longer stationed in her home country. She now regularly appears at all the great opera houses in Europe
. She returned to her own audience for the Vilnius
Festival on May 29th. She also sang with her husband, the brilliant Italian tenor Alfredo Nigro supported by The  Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Modestas Pitrenas.

Violeta Urmana and Alfredo Nigro, foto Christine Schneider

The interesting program
included arias and duets from operas by Gluck, Cherubini and Berlioz.
Also heard were orchestral works by Gluck and Berlioz. Much of the music is seldom heard in Northern Europe, was therefore new to many in the audience, and therefore quite an event.

It is a great pleasure listening to one of todays great lyric dramatic sopranos, having previously been a famous mezzo. She posesses a beautiful voice with great power above the stave. In addition she has an extraordinary stage
presence seemingly inbred with great singers. She was well prepared and thus feeling secure about her “job”. She looked great in her tasteful evening dress with lace and pearl embroideries. Her rendition of  “La Mort de Cleopatre” by Berlioz in the second half was a hit with the audience.

ALFREDO NIGRO

This was my first encounter with the Italian tenor Alfredo Nigro, Violeta´s husband, and a positive one at that. He posesses a good italianate tenor voice with ample power in alt, and he seems most secure with what he does. Unfortunately this was the primadonnas night, so we only heard him in an aria from Gluck´s “Alceste” and in
the love duet “Nuit d´Ivresse”  from “Les Troyens“. Together they were a most handsome couple.

MODESTA PITRENAS and THE LITHUANIAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

The evening´s conductor, Modesta Pitrenas, did an admirable job. He is evidently very familiar with the various works, and he was an alert accompanist for the singers. With him and the orchestra, which showed their great capacity, we partook in a fine experience. First the beautiful ballet suite composed of music from various operas
by Gluck. Amongst them the famous “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” from “Orfeo and Euridice” with the brilliant and beautiful flute solo played by the orchesta´s lead flutist, Valentina Gelgotas. The orchestra could here demonstrate its ability as a baroque orchestra.

Introducing the second part of the evening came “The Royal Hunt and Storm” from Berlioz´ Les Troyens. Most enjoyable was the fantastic sound from the first horn played by Mindaugas Gecevicius. A marvellous experience ! Good work also from the kettle drums. This is a large-scale orchestral piece, which showed that the band is
somewhat on the small side. However, there is no doubt about the high quality of the orchestra, even compared with other European symphony orchestras.
I am aware of the problem of many talented musicians leaving their native countries for better paid jobs in western Europe. However, the orchestra gave me a fantastic evening of high quality music-making. Yet, it is not enough to be highly talented. One needs years of experience with this kind of work, which the Lithuanian Philharmonic
Orchesta does posess. An orchestra with only ca
. 40 string-players is too small for a huge piece like Berlioz. At least 60 strings are needed – hopefully possible in the future. Why not combine the two orchestras of Vilnius?

 
Thank you for a marvellous evening.

THE PHILHARMONIC HALL WAS PACKED FOR THE EVENT
The audience loved it all and repaid the artists with a stormy ovation. Two generous extras by Gluck were given. President Adamkus was present with his wife. So was also the coming president, Mr. Gruauskaite + other prominent guests. The concert was recorded for Lithuanian television.

UNHARMONIC CLICK; CLICK; CLICK.

At classical concerts in Vilnius it is, unfortunately, usual for press photographers todisturb the audience with their unmusical clicking. The audience has paid a small fortune to listen to music, and deserve to being able to do so, not to be disturbed by endless clicking. It was most unsettling to sit at the left side of the auditorium for the first half hour. 5 minutes of it is more than enough! Even though it was a special evening, the photographers should be made aware by their editors that it is not a sports event.
I have been the manager of countless concerts and would have sent them packing after 5 minutes !

MIKHAIL RASHKOVSKY (1959 – 2009)
There was no clicking when Mikhail Rashkovsky was the photographer because he knew about discretion. One of his mottos was that a pressphotographer should neither be seen nor heard during a concert. There was a beautiful memorial exhibition of Mikhail Rashkovsky´s work and mastery presented in the foyer of The Lituanian Philharmonic Society.