Kristine Opolais, Gaston Rivero, & Justina Gringytė Lead Lithuanian National Opera’s 2023-24 Season

The Lithuanian National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” conducted by Sesto Quatrini and starring Kristīne Opolais, Kseniya Bakhritdinova, and Viktorija Miškūnaitė sharing the title role. They will be joined by Gaston Rivero, Liudas Norvaisas, Justina Gringytė, Tadas Girininkas, Liudas Mikalauskas, Arūnas Malikėnas, and Kostas Smoriginas. Performance Dates: Nov. 10-18, 2023 Vladimiras Prudnikovas will {…}

May 2, 2023

Sesto Quatrini Ends Term as Artistic Director at Lithuanian National Opera

Sesto Quatrini is stepping down as Artistic Director of the Lithuanian National Opera. In an open letter, the conductor said, “On 30th June 2023, my term as artistic director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre will come to an end. In October 2016, when I was invited to Vilnius to conduct a Kristine Opolais Gala, I could never {…}

Dec 26, 2022

Kristian Benedikt Apologizes for Performing in Belarus Following Criticism From Lithuanian Government

Lithuanian tenor Kristian Benedikt is apologizing for his recent performance in Belarus. The tenor, who was criticized for performing in Minsk, said he went to Belarus at the invitation of an evangelical bishop and took part in pre-Christmas events to support his friends suffering repressions of the Minsk regime. He said, “I performed at a concert organized and directed by {…}

Oct 13, 2022

Lithuanian National Opera to Present ‘I Capuleti e i Montecchi’

The Lithuanian National Opera is set to resent “Bellini’s “I Capuleti e i Montecchi.” The opera will be conducted by Bel Canto specialist Sesto Quatrini with which he debuted on the podium of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in June 2017. The revival of the Vincent Boussard production is set to star Raffaella Lupinacci, Lucrezia Drei, Davide Giusti and {…}

Aug 31, 2021

Lithuanian National Opera Announces Cast Change for ‘Der Rosenkavalier’

The Lithuanian National Opera has announced a cast change for its upcoming production of “Der Rosenkavalier.” The company revealed that due to serious family problems, Carmela Remigio has had to withdraw from the production. As a result, Joana Gedmintaitė will sing the role of the Marschallin. Gedmintaitė is a Lithuanian soprano who has performed in the UK, Estonia, Japan, USA, {…}

Jun 17, 2021

Kristian Benedikt, Viktorija Miškūnaitė & Mickael Spadaccini Lead Lithuanian National Opera’s 2021-22 Season

The Lithuanian National Opera has announced its 2021-22 season featuring a variety of repertoire for the whole family. Here is a look at the opera and operetta to be performed. Viktorija Miškūnaitė headlines Massenet’s “Manon“ with Mickael Spadaccini and Eugenijus Chrebtovas. The production will be conducted by Julius Geniušas. Performance Dates: Sept. 30 -Oct. 2, 2021 Verdi’s “La Traviata“ will return {…}

Oct 27, 2020

Q & A: Francesca Sassu & Raffaella Lupinacci on Getting COVID-19, ‘Anna Bolena,’ & Returning to the Stage

Francesca Sassu and Raffaella Lupinacci’s long-awaited debuts at the Lithuanian Opera in “Anna Bolena” proved quite a unique experience for both artists. Namely due to COVID-19. The Italian singers were set to perform the work for the first time in August until they tested positive for the virus. As a result, the company postponed the opening of the production while {…}

Oct 14, 2020

Editorial: Why is It Hard, But Essential to Praise

(Photo: Joshua Reddekopp) We, critics, forgot how to look around. Always concentrated on our perspective, our goal, we come to the theatre, ready to collect the proofs of our case. But now, what we see is impossible to ignore — it’s too unreal. Halls that are two-thirds empty we now call sold-out. Rehearsals in masks are a new normal. Distanced actors play {…}

Oct 1, 2020

Lithuanian Opera Reschedules ‘Anna Bolena’ with Francesca Sassu & Raffaella Lupinacci

Following the postponement of “Anna Bolena” at the Lithuanian Opera, the company will open the production on Oct. 4. The showcase, which was originally set to open on August 25, will star Francesca Sassu in the title role and Raffaella Lupinacci in her role debut as Giovanna Seymour. Michele Angelini and Tadas Girininkas round out the first cast. The second {…}

Aug 10, 2020

Lithuanian National Opera Suspends Activities Due to COVID-19

(Photo Credit: E. Blaževič/LRT nuotr.) The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet has decided to suspend its activities starting immediately due to the rising COVID-19 threat. Performances of the ballet “Giselle” slated for August 12, 13 & 14 have been postponed for September. Specific dates will be announced on a later occasion. The latest development at the LNOBT comes two days {…}

Jun 23, 2020

Lithuanian National Opera’s New Normal Looks Somewhat Familiar

It was a hot summer afternoon and the journalists gathered in the shadow of Lithuanian National Opera’s massive building. Here, LNOBT art-director Sesto Quatrini, general manager Jonas Sakalauskas, principal conductor Ričardas Šumila, and choreographer Martynas Rimeikis are preparing to reveal a new season’s program. Everything gets off to a great start. Nothing reminds us of the global crisis still raging {…}

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