“Čiurlionis and Debussy” is a subtle musical journey in which one of Lithuania’s most prominent ensembles, the Mettis String Quartet, together with harpist Liucilė Vilimaitė, will reveal the beauty of Lithuanian and European musical traditions.
Bringing their talents together for a special concert programme, these audience favourites and critically acclaimed performers will offer Vilnius audiences an evening filled with romantic expressiveness and exquisite music. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’s String Quartet in C minor is infused with the spirit of Lithuania and its fundamental cultural heritage, while Claude Debussy’s works — the String Quartet in G minor and Danse sacrée et danse profane — embody the lightness and refinement of French Impressionism. Arnold Bax’s Quintet for Harp and Strings, rich in Romantic expression and textural depth, will complement the programme with the distinctive colours of British music.
PROGRAMME
Mikalojus Konstantinas ČIURLIONIS (1875–1911)
String Quartet in C minor, VL 83
Claude DEBUSSY (1862–1918)
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10
Danse sacrée et danse profane for harp and strings
Arnold BAX (1883–1953)
Quintet for Harp and Strings, GP 214
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Mettis String Quartet
Mettis is a term from Greek mythology associated with wisdom, ingenuity and skill. The name also gave rise to a broader concept referring to creativity and mastery grounded in quality.
It is therefore fitting that one of Lithuania’s youngest yet most prominent string quartets chose this name. Its four instrumentalists — violinists Kostas Tumosa and Bernardas Petrauskas, violist Tomas Petrikis and cellist Rokas Vaitkevičius — embody these qualities through their artistry.
Another defining feature of the quartet is its continuous pursuit of artistic growth, participation in international masterclasses and work with leading professionals from around the world. Combined with prizes won at prestigious chamber music competitions, these achievements have established Mettis among Lithuania’s leading classical music ensembles.
More about the Mettis String Quartet: mettisquartet.com
Liucilė U. Vilimaitė, harpist, is a graduate of the Balys Dvarionas Music School in Vilnius and the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. She has performed in concert halls in Lithuania and the Netherlands and has appeared with the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, St Christopher Chamber Orchestra and Vilnius University Chamber Orchestra.
In 2010, Liucilė U. Vilimaitė received a diploma at the National Balys Dvarionas Competition for Young Performers. In 2012, 2014 and 2016, she became a laureate of the same competition three times. In 2010, she won third prize in the junior category at the 2nd International Harp Competition in Szeged, Hungary. In 2013, she won first prize and received the Vincitore Assoluto diploma at the 5th International Music Competition Città di Filadelfia – Premio Speciale “Paolo Serrao” in Italy.
The young harpist is also an active composer, with her works receiving numerous awards.
She regularly performs with the international harp sextet Harp Sirens, founded in 2019, which performs contemporary music specially written for the ensemble. In September 2020, the ensemble made its debut at Gaudeamus, one of the Netherlands’ major festivals of contemporary academic music. In 2021, the harp sextet performed at the International Dutch Harp Festival in Utrecht, where Liucilė’s composition for six harps, Lost in Time, was also performed.
In recognition of her musical achievements and contribution to promoting Lithuania, Liucilė U. Vilimaitė received a letter of appreciation from President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė in 2014.
More about Liucilė U. Vilimaitė: liucilevilimaite.com
The International M. K. Čiurlionis Music Festival is organised by VšĮ “Klasika LT”.
By purchasing a ticket to the concert, you agree that the event may be photographed and/or filmed and that the resulting visual material may be published on the websites and social media channels owned by VšĮ “Klasika LT” and/or in the media.