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History

 

 

Kaunas State Choir started its professional artistic career on October 23, 1969. Since the foundation of the choir, it had been led by the laureate of the Lithuanian National Award - Professor Petras Bingelis. On December 2020 Professor passed away. 
 
Since March 2021 Kaunas State Choir Artistic Director and Chief Conductor is Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize Laureate, Professor Robertas Šervenikas.
 
The choir has prepared more than 250 voluminous instrumental-vocal pieces belonging to the world music classics ranging from the Middle Ages to modern music: oratories, cantatas, masses, passions, stage and concert versions of operas. At the beginning of its career the choir had given several successful performances in Lithuanian concert halls and, during the period when Lithuania still comprised a part of the Soviet Union, numerous times delivered concerts in the prestigious concert halls of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, took part in the Russian music festivals ”Russian winter“, ”Moscow stars“, with concert programs visited the capitals of all Soviet Republics and soon gained international acknowledgement.
 
In Western countries the choir first became famous in 1984 by performing Symphony No. 7 by M. Theodorakis in Paris; later this piece was performed and recorded in Berlin ”Schauspielhaus“ concert hall under the baton of Herbert Kegel (1920-1990).
 
After the restoration of Independence of Lithuania that opened ways to the West, especially when the choir started collaboration with the music legend of the XXth century, a violinist and conductor Lord Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999), its concert life became extremely active and purposeful. Year 1992 was marked with the participation of the choir in the festival dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America - ”Old and new routes to India“ that took place in Spain. This was a year of successful tours. Concert and theatrical performances of oratorio ”Messiah“ by G. F. Händel under the baton of Y. Menuhin took place in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Egypt, Russia; the collective delivered performances in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Santiago (Chile). The choir became one of the famous singer collectives in Europe.
 
Since the very first years of Independence of Lithuania the choir got involved in close collaboration with German pianist, conductor Justus Frantz. The first joint performances took place in summer of 1992 in Vilnius and Schleswig-Holstein festival in Germany, later followed concerts in the New Year music festivals in Maspalomas (Canary Islands). In 1996 on the initiative of the conductor the choir went on the tour to the Eastern European countries. Symphony No. 2 by G. Mahler was heard by music lovers of Warsaw, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague and Moscow.
 
Meaningful and creative friendship linked the Kaunas State Choir with the violoncellist and conductor - Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007). Maestro greatly appreciated mastership and professionalism of the choir, considered it to be one of the best musical collectives in the world he had an opportunity to work together. The collaboration started in 1998 in Cologne (Germany). Here a cantata ”Sonnengesang“ by composer S. Gubaidulina for percussions, choir and cello was performed. Then the choir was invited to a French town Evian to perform Symphony No. 9 by L. van Beethoven with accompaniment of Leipzig Radio Orchestra. With this famous musician the choir gave performances in Gstaad (Switzerland). Under the baton of M. Rostropovich the choir sang a cantata ”Carmina Burana“ by C. Orff. On January 8, 2001 the choir, introducing the culture of Lithuania in Paris, together with M. Rostropovich performed Symphony No. 9 by L. van Beethoven in Théâtre des Champs - Elysées.
 
At the turn of the century the choir got acquainted with the Polish composer - Krzysztof Penderecki. On September 17, 1999 in Warsaw the choir performed K. Penderecki’s ”Te Deum“, in 2001 in Saint-Petersburg during the ”White nights“ festival – ”Seven Gates of Jerusalem“ under the baton of the author himself, in summer 2003 at Schwäbish Gmünd Church music festival in Germany – ”Passio Secundum Lucam“.
 
Since 1989 the choir has been constantly invited to take part in European musical festivals – ”Bordeaux Spring“ and ”The Mediterranean coast“ in France, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, Turku in Finland; festivals that take place in Middle European countries. French audience had an opportunity to admire performances of the choir in Paris ”Pleyel“ concert hall and Notre-Dame Cathedral, Italian – at Saint Cecily National Music Academy in Rome; the choir gave splendid performances in ”Colon“ theatre in Buenos Aires, opera houses of Santiago, Genoa, Bologna, Cairo, Warsaw; on repeated occasions performed together with symphony orchestras: BBC of London, National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Moscow and Saint-Petersburg Philharmonies and others, sang together with world famous-soloists - Irina Archipova (1925-2010), Sergej Larin (1956-2008), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (1969-2017), Montserrat Caballé, Violeta Urmana and others. The Kaunas State Choir delivered concerts under the baton of the following conductors: Dmitri Kitayenko, Cyril Diederich, Yan Pascal Tortelier, John Axelrod, Vladimir Spivakov, Valery Gergiev and others.
 
On January 12, 2003 in Berlin concert hall ”Am Gendarmenmarkt“ the Kaunas State Choir took part in gala concert dedicated to commemorate the UNESCO decision to include the manuscript of Symphony No. 9 by L. van Beethoven into the catalogue of documentary heritage – ”Memory of the World“. The choir sang with the accompaniment of the orchestra ”Philharmonic of Nations“ and under the baton of Justus Frantz.
 
The same year Kaunas State Choir performed at the season opening concert of one of the largest and most modern European concert halls – ”Auditorium Parco della Musica“ in Rome. Kaunas Choir alongside with foreign performers and choir and symphony orchestra of ”Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia“ directed by Myung-Whun Chung performed Symphony No. 8 by G. Mahler.
 
The Kaunas State Choir has held more than 3000 performances in Lithuania and far beyond its borders. More than 75 thousands of auditors listened to the cantata „Carmina Burana“ by Carl Orff that the choir performed in the Berlin Stadium; G. F. Händel’s oratorio ”Messiah“ was performed by the choir as many as 80 times.
 
In concert halls of Lithuania, the Kaunas State Choir is known as a performer of premieres of foreign and Lithuanian composers’ music. The choir has prepared more than 250 premieres under the baton of the most famous Lithuanian conductors – Jonas Aleksa (1939-2005), Saulius Sondeckis (1928-2016), Juozas Domarkas, Gintaras Rinkevičius, Robertas Šervenikas and with the accompaniment of Lithuanian National, State symphony and chamber, opera and ballet theatre orchestras. Compositions of Gustav Mahler, Carl Orff, Sofia Gubaidulina, Alfred Schnittke, Arnold Schöenberg, Dmitri Shostakovich, Pēteris Vasks, Jasques Loussier were introduced to the Lithuanian audience for the first time.
 
The choir is a permanent participant of events and concerts dedicated to commemorate national holidays and festive occasions that are live broadcasted by Lithuanian National radio and television. One of the most significant music events in Lithuania is Pažaislis music festival that during summer period guests in concert halls of Kaunas and other cities of Lithuania and has already become a traditional event. It is difficult to imagine this festival without a participation of the Kaunas State Choir.
 
The music performed by the choir is often meant to honour influential guests that visit Lithuania: in 1993 during the apostolic visit the choir sang to the pope John Paul II, in 2008 in Trakai - to the Queen of the Netherlands – Beatrix, in 2009 at the opening ceremony of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania – to the numerous gathered monarchs and leaders of European countries.
 
Among the most prominent records, there are the choir’s records of ”Messiah“ by G. F. Händel, ”Die Schöpfung“ by J. Haydn, Symphony No. 9 by L. van Beethoven, Masses ”As-dur“ and „C-dur“ F. Schubert under the direction of Y. Menuhin; ”Resurrection“ Symphony No. 2 by G. Mahler, operas – ”Die Zauberflöte“ by W. A. Mozart, ”Otello“ by G. Verdi recorded with conductor G. Rinkevičius and State Symphonic Orchestra of Lithuania. A special place in the discography is dedicated to the pieces of choral music by Lithuanian composers – M. K. Čiurlionis, J. Naujalis, Č. Sasnauskas, B. Dvarionas, J. Juzeliūnas, B. Kutavičius.
 

PETRAS BINGELIS (1943-2020)
Art director and chief conductor (1969-2020)

Famous Lithuanian conductor Petras Bingelis passed away on December 6 at the age of 77 . 

 Trying to describe the essence of music and it’s significance in my life, I probably could not do it more precisely and felicitously than the Lithuanian composer and painter M. K. Čiurlionis has done: “Music is a messenger of God that has been sent to stir the most gentle and the best cords of our soul”. Music heightens the spirit and makes it nobler, encourages it to unfold and releases the creative energy. Why have I chosen the music to be the substance and the form of my life? It is the point. Life without music is just silence and emptiness.


While studying at the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy, P. Bingelis started working as the choirmaster of the male choir “Varpas” and the player and conductor’s assistant in the state brass band “Trimitas”. In 1969 he graduated from the academy obtaining the conductor’s diploma and formed Kaunas State Choir that he is leading until now. In 1975-1976 he improved his professional skills at Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy High Music School in Leipzig, in the choral conducting classes of professors Rolf Reuter and Kurt Masur.


Since 1970 P. Bingelis is the chief conductor and art director of the Lithuanian Song Festivals, included into the UNESCO Intangible heritage list, chairman and member of juries during choirs’ competitions. In 1977-1979 he founded the chamber orchestra of Kaunas and became it’s leader. In 1988-1989 he worked as the chief conductor of Kaunas State Musical Theatre. P. Bingelis is a professor at Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy. He is also the founder and art director of Pažaislis Music Festival.

In recent years P. Bingelis together with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra introduced to the public “Paukenmesse” by J. Haydn, “Dzūkian variations” by B. Kutavičius, with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra – “Stabat Mater” by K. Szymanowski and the most famous fragments of classical operas, with Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra – “Requiem” by W. A. Mozart, “Le Déluge” by C. Saint-Saëns, “Stabat Mater” by K. Jenkins, “Symphony of Proverbs” by J. Juzeliūnas, “Requiem” by Č. Sasnauskas and numerous other pieces.

He has conducted the Odessa Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the staging of “La Traviata” by G. Verdi and “Don Giovanni” by W. A. Mozart at Kaunas State Musical Theatre.

Conducting at international music festivals of Macao (China, 2012), “Prague’s spring” (Czech Republic, 2016) and “Probaltica” (Poland, 2017), he introduced the oeuvre of Lithuanian composers and Lithuania’s musical culture.

The most characteristic traits of P. Bingelis as the conductor were and still remain energy, play of its push and tempering, resolution to advance and to take risks even in the most complicated moments. The conductor creates impressive choral art that proclaims life and optimism.

The creative activity of P. Bingelis has earned the highest estimations. In 1993 the conductor was granted the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize, in 1994 he was awarded with the 4th grade order of Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, in 2003 – with the Commandor’s Grand Cross of the order “For the merits to Lithuania”, in 2020 – with the Grand Cross of the order “For the merits to Lithuania”, in 2008 he was elected the Honour Citizen of Kaunas City. In 2013 the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture handed in the sign of honour “Bring light and believe” to P. Bingelis.

 

BEATA ANDRIUŠKEVIČIENĖ

 

It would be purposeful and rejoicing for any pianist to give a concert with such an assembly of musicians as the State Choir of Kaunas. It is impossible to describe in words the kind of life and performance experience the Choir has accumulated. Being at the side of the Choir one feels stronger and more vigorous.
 
B. Andriuškevičienė worked as concertmaster at Kaunas state chpir since 1993 until 2022. She graduated from Šiauliai Conservatoire piano class in 1990 and in 1996 she was conferred a music master degree after graduation from Kaunas Faculty of the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy (professor R. Čepinskis piano class and associate professor L. Richterytė-Janulevičienė concertmaster class).
 
Since 1996 she has been lecturing at the Piano department Concertmaster class at Kaunas Faculty of the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy, since 2011 she has been lecturing at Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy Piano department and working as concertmaster at the Sing department.
 
In 1994 B. Andriuškevičienė became concertmaster of Kaunas State Choir and has given concerts together with the Choir in Russia, Germany, Norway, Denmark and China. The pianist takes part at the International Music Festivals in Pažaislis as well in M. K. Čiurlionis and E. Grieg Music Festivals. She is an active member of the Kaunas musical community, participates in the musical events organized by community. B. Andriuškevičienė is also a member of M. K. Čiurlionis’ Association.
 
The repertoire of the pianist includes choral and vocal music pieces by J.S. Bach, G. F. Händel, L. Van Beethoven, W. A. Mozart, K. Penderecki, F.Poulenc, G. Mahler belonging to be the treasury of world music heritage and as well as the music created by Lithuanian composers J. Naujalis, J. Pakalnis, J. Gruodis, J. Švedas, V. Jakubėnas and other Lithuanian composers.
 
In Lithuanian Concert Halls and music projects B. Andriuškevičienė is known as a charismatic and temperamental pianist delicately feeling the music performed and being able to convey its essence to the listeners.