The Song of the Earth

June 18, 19:00 | Vilnius University Great Courtyard (Entrance from St. John St. 12), Vilnius

Performers:

LITHUANIAN NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Soloists:

JUSTINA GRINGYTĖ (mezzo-soprano)
KRISTIAN BENEDIKT (tenor)
Conductor MODESTAS PITRĖNAS

Programme

GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911)

Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) for mezzo-soprano, tenor and orchestra:

Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde (The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow)
Der Einsame im Herbst (The Solitary One in Autumn)
Von der Jugend (Of Youth)
Von der Schönheit (Of Beauty)
Der Trunkene im Frühling (The Drunkard in Spring)
Der Abschied (The Farewell)

Majestic opus The Song of the Earth programmed at the closing concert of the Festival gave the motto for this year’s Vilnius Festival: the fate of the Earth as a human planet is particularly relevant today. Gustav Mahler wrote his symphony-cantata Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth), also known as the Ninth Symphony, in 1909. It is an epic that speaks to all humanity. The song is the soul and nerve of Mahler’s symphonies, and in this opus, the song becomes its epitome. The composer employed lyrics from German poet Hans Bethge’s Die chinesische Flöte (The Chinese Flute) collection. Inspired by ancient, even exotic poems by Chinese poets, Mahler created one of the most eloquent scores in music literature of the world.

The stage will be graced by prominent Lithuanian musicians – the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, internationally admired soloists Justina Gringytė and Kristian Benedikt, and the conductor Modestas Pitrėnas, a recipient of the Lithuanian National Prize.

Tickets – 20 Eur