The 11th season of Vilnius City Opera is truly exceptional. First of all, the abundance and variety of work. That's why, this Monday, the team starts rehearsing even two projects at the same time: December 6-10. the premiere of "Samson and Delilah" and on November 23 forthcoming dramatized by Erica Jennings a concert "Stories from New York." Well, at the same time, on the seaside - in Palanga - preparations are being made for the performance of the legendary Pajaci on November 17. So how does director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė's team manage all this?
Today, it is rare for a theater to create more than one premiere at the same time, and especially a "homeless" one like VCO, which has been creating and surprising the audience with impressive productions for ten years, although in fact it still has neither its own stage nor a rehearsal hall. What the "Bohemians" have perfected over the years is, above all, unbreakable enthusiasm and the fruits of creative collaboration. In addition to the enthusiasm, it is worth mentioning the main premiere of this season - "Samson and Delilah" by C. Saint Saëns.
A very strong group of artists has been assembled for this production, including the author of the poster of the exceptional play Andrii Zakarauskas. Starting this Monday, the entire creative team, with director Dalia Ibelhauptaite at the forefront, will dive into the depths of biblical history and romantic music. The main parts will be performed here by Justina Gringytė, Kristian Benedikt and Kostas Smoriginas, well known in Europe and beyond, as well as: Jovita Vaškevičiūtė, Tadas Girininkas, Raimundas Juzuitis, Eimantas Bešėnas, Edgaras Davidovičius, Kšyštofs Bondarenko and the Kaunas State Choir led by Petros Bingelis. Before the meeting with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra led by maestro Gintaras Rinkevičius, the singers together with D. Ibelhauptaite will create the visual and effective part of the story in directed rehearsals. When they enter the Congress stage, they will be greeted by the decorations and costumes of "The Magic Flute", brought to new life and conceptually reworked especially for this project. It was from the presentation of their idea on Monday that the meeting of the creative group began.
"To take on the opera of C. Saint-Saëns, a composer not yet well known to the Lithuanian audience, we are taking a big risk, but I sincerely believe that since 1931 "Samson and Delilah", which was not produced in Lithuania, must see the light of day. What's more, I think that next to the works of the most popular composers, the repertoire of any mature ensemble should include musical masterpieces such as the operas of L. Janaček, C. Debussy, A. Berg or S. Prokofiev. In the world, these missions are usually undertaken by the main national theaters, but we are not afraid of challenges and are happy to fill this gap. The more new, inspiring and enriching works we have, the greater the choice will be for the viewer!", said D. Ibelhauptaitė.
The latest fruit of unexpected collaborations in the garden of VCO is the theatrical E. Jennings concert. On the same Monday, D. Ibelhauptaitė's long-time associate, director Gediminas Šeduikis, starts rehearsing it. "Stories from New York" will not only open a different genre of musical evening to the audience, but will also allow them to immerse themselves in the various destinies of the Irish in the foreign 20th century. Ave. New York, to hear about what it was like to try to survive there, fighting under brutal conditions with equally brutal rules. The action takes place in Prohibition America, when the mafia produced and sold banned alcohol in secret clubs and bars. And the central axis becomes a young girl from Ireland...
By the way, before November 17 Performances of Pajaci Klaipėda, the musical theater will bring all its soloists to Vilnius especially for rehearsals with G. Šeduikis! The creators of VCO are extremely grateful to their coastal colleagues for their understanding, because due to such a coincidence in time and its lack, it would have been impossible to rehearse in several cities. In addition, according to the "bohemians" themselves, it is nice to know that the new house of the play cares so much about preserving the life and spirit of the work and takes care of the production handed over to them.
"Just as parents are happy with their grown-up children, so I can't be happy with the high-class, excellent professional Gediminas Šeduikis has grown into." The young man who timidly opened the door to my rehearsals 10 years ago has today become an absolute master of his work super professional. Gedimin's ability to create and execute complex directorial drawings in great detail, to handle multiple projects at once, and to achieve high results even when the circumstances seem impossible, are qualities that no academy will teach. I think he is an excellent example of the western school of directing, where the profession is acquired through practice, working with the best masters. So far, Gediminas is the only opera director raised in Lithuania", says D. Ibelhauptaitė.
Yes, the VCO collective, so small, but full of creative energy and inspiration, starts this week the real marathon of work, in the finale of which the audience is waiting for three unforgettable and very different evenings, meeting the inexhaustible creations of "bohemians" and their friends.
