According to experts, during the 30 years of independence, one sensitive issue has not been resolved - we have arenas suitable for an audience of tens of thousands, but more compact, universal concert halls that meet the highest acoustic standards - still not.
"Such a hall is most lacking in Vilnius, the capital of the country. We have to admit - we don't have 1-3 thousand fully adapted for concert events. venue, where local and foreign artists of different genres would perform, various festivals, theatrical musical productions, music industry fairs would be incorporated", says Domantas Razauskas, songwriter and performer, radio host, chairman of the board of the Lithuanian Association of Performers and Music Producers AGATA.
The audience is there, the spaces are not
The chairman of the AGATA council says that he is constantly communicating with concert organizers, performers, and managers, so he has been hearing for many years that a good concert hall that can accommodate several thousand listeners and meets all the highest acoustic standards is vital for the city of Vilnius.
"Organizers of modern dance and film festivals are waiting for such a multifunctional space. I know of many examples in the cultural world where it is potentially good event did not happen precisely because of the lack of hall. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges, independent and active young organizations invite to Lithuania not only those artists who were popular 40 years ago, but also those who are currently the pulse of the musical scene, trying to bring the stars of tomorrow. There is an audience for them in Vilnius, but no space. Stopped catering to poor tastes, bringing in a lot of non-"arena" musicians. Unfortunately, the organizers are forced to hold concerts outdoors and only in the summer, because where else?", D. Razauskas asks rhetorically.
According to him, under favorable conditions, people go to high-quality performances by local artists, but the artists themselves are forced to either settle for small spaces, often in churches, theaters, or former factories, or to play tricks with large arenas. In the first case, the fans remain unsatisfied, and in the second case, the arenas are not always adapted for high-quality musical events. For example, arenas are not suitable for a high level jazz performance, they are too big for many alternative music artists.
"Let's not talk about big theatrical performances, dance performances, film festivals, finally - conference spaces, a place for specific music fairs. After the trials, the offer of events is gradually growing, and there is no high-quality multifunctional hall. The disadvantage is especially obvious when seeing examples of neighbors. Latvians have more than one high-quality medium-sized concert hall, it is understood that culture is not just a club or a sports arena", comments D. Razauskas.
The company "Acropolis Group" has prepared project proposals for the planned multi-functional quarter "Akropolis Vingis" in the Vilkpėdes micro-district of Vilnius. In the former industrial area, a new city quarter will rise, not only with a shopping and entertainment center, but also with a universal concert hall, which will have 2500 seats or up to 4000 standing places.
"It must be remembered that a concert building is a specific space, and all acoustics, echoes, suspension points, adaptability of the hall to different needs must be thought of in advance. Such a structure should be easily accessed by equipment, after yesterday's acoustic performance, all the necessary lights, decorations, sound equipment could be arranged for a luxurious pop show, music awards would be held the day after tomorrow, and jazz or rock music the day after. concert. Roof structures, variable seating capacity, good acoustics, good access and exit from the event - everything is important. In the entire history of more than 30 years of independent Lithuania, I do not know of a single hall that was built with all these segments in mind," says the Chairman of the AGATA Council.
It would force the performers to stretch and the residents to come
According to Gabrielė Vilkickytė, a songwriter and performer, member of the AGATA council, there is a real shortage of halls in Vilnius that can accommodate an audience of several thousand and are suitable for concerts.
"I remember when it became clear that the main direction of the national concert hall "Tautos namai" on Mount Tauros will be academic music - there was disappointment among representatives of contemporary music. It highlighted that quality concert halls 2-4 thousand. there is definitely a lack of audience in the country. And that says something about the country's attitude to culture. Why are there no high-quality concert halls symbolizing modern craftsmanship? In a city where it is often difficult to choose which one to go to a concert to go even in the middle of the week," the performer shares her insights.
She continues by saying that such a hall would encourage the country's performers to push themselves and be proud of their profession. When you enter a space that is full of quality - top-class equipment, instruments, acoustics - it's as if your spine straightens and you want to perform as best as possible.
"A new hall in the capital would renew the residents' curiosity to hear performers and go to concerts, and it would be a signal that new generations of creative people are growing in Lithuania, the cultural territory is expanding, and the need for quality artistic content is growing. Even today, Lithuanian concert organizers attract strong foreign performers, but it is true that it is often heard about the lack of a quality hall, and some performers, especially those of alternative music, do not come because of this fact alone. Or they sing in halls that do not reflect their style of music", sums up G. Vilkickytė.
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