November 9 a big celebration awaits all fans of Merūnas Vitulskis - one of the most beloved Lithuanian tenors will perform with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra at the Vilnius Congress Palace. Before a concert we talked with M. Vitulskis about the spirit of Italian music, working with maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius, future plans and expected debuts.
Merūnas, in a concert with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, you will perform arias from the operas of the great Italian opera masters G. Puccini, G. Donizetti and R. Leoncavallo. What does Italian classical music mean to you personally?
Above all, the Italian language is very grateful to music. There are a lot of works translated from Italian, but they never sound like the original, because one or another musical phrase is dedicated to a specific Italian sentence. In addition, we have the Italians to thank for the birth of "bel canto" music, a vocal school tradition that has spread throughout the world. When I heard the great tenors for the first time as a child, from the very first notes I was simply mesmerized by the deep tradition and mystery with which it takes place. And everything that we experience in childhood usually lasts the longest.
What is special about working with Maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra?
Maestro is a "terrorist" and a big provocateur in the best sense of the word. Sometimes your possibilities are written only in your own head, and the maestro, as a great psychologist, helps you overcome your complexes and do what you think is impossible. I vividly remember one of my first concerts with him - he is a man with a big smile, always with his hands wide open for creativity - he will probably remain that way in my eyes forever. One could talk a lot about the maestro's authority and mastery, but I will say one thing - I have had the chance to work with many great conductors, but G. Rinkevičius is the best of the best. He lives what he does. That says it all.
Tell us about your recent professional activities. What works and plans make you the most happy?
Like every year, all my activities start at the end of October and continue until about June. It's a busy period right now and I'm in a bit of a panic because there's really a lot of work to be done. October 25 I sang at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater in a concert dedicated to the memory of Professor Virgilijaus Noreikas, for which the collected funds will be used to perpetuate the memory of V. Noreikas. A little later, I'm flying to Germany - I have a contract there for a month, but during that time I'll return to Lithuania for a few more concerts, including November 9. with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. After the end of the contract, my arena tour around Lithuania begins - again a huge responsibility. After the New Year, I will have my debut with "Bohemians" - I will play the role of Kavaradosi in the opera "Tosca". I have never sung this part before, it is a big responsibility for me because the role is dramatic and difficult, but I will try to do the impossible and make my dream come true.
What is the most difficult thing for you when preparing for a new role?
Adapting to a new role is usually not difficult, as you spend a lot of time preparing with it and eventually settling in. The most difficult are the technical things - where to inhale, where are the commas, what dynamics, what should be the pronunciation. I could talk a lot about this, but really nothing in life is easy - you just have to be happy that I can do my favorite job, which is also my biggest hobby.
You sing different genres of music. Is there a genre in which you feel the best?
I have already told the press a couple of times that everything is enough, now I will only do what I really want. But when you go back to the music for which you were created and prepared for all your life, you automatically abandon your family - sometimes it's not enough to be away even for two or three months, and I have no right to take so much time away from my family, the opportunity to do my work, that's why I have to to be more versatile. Lithuania has a small market, so yes - sometimes you have to please the listener. The genres I do are very different, but whatever I do, I want to do it well first and foremost. When diplomacy, seriousness, and focus are on the mind, it usually works out.
Tenor Merūnas Vitulskis and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra concert "Maroon: pearls of Italian operas" will take place in 2018. November 9 at 19 p.m. in the Vilnius Chamber of Congresses. You can buy tickets at Tiketos, Teatrai.lt and Vilnius Congress Palace ticket offices.
