Videographic concert “Sky Builder”

The endless journey of ANBO

Program description

The filmed videographic concert “Sky Builder” on LRT Plius ⇔

Sky Builder is a narrative of music, movement, and imagery that transports the audience to the first half of the 20th century, to interwar Lithuania and its achievements in aviation which gained fame throughout Europe. At the heart of the concert’s dramatic arc is Antanas Gustaitis, commander of the Lithuanian Air Force, who designed nine different aircraft models, known as ANBO. This is a story about the vision of a creative man and a young nation, soon to be crushed by an occupation which also sent the creator of ANBO himself into the darkness of death. Yet at the same time, it is a story full of light and poetic philosophy about humanity’s innate desire to break free from the earth and to reach what seemed unattainable. The State Ensemble LIETUVA premiered the concert on September 24, 2025, at the Kaunas Sports Hall.

In 2026, videographer Lukas Miceika won the “Golden Stage Cross” for his videography for the concert “Sky Builder” (in the “Technology Design” category).

The concert organizers’ vision was a synthesis of visuals, technology, and music, inviting audiences to explore the origins of aviation and reflect on the creative human spirit. “This is not just a story about A. Gustaitis—rather, it is about every person’s innate desire to discover the unknown and transcend what is human. We perceive flight both as a physical state and as a metaphor that humans have been contemplating for thousands of years” – say the concert’s creators.

An experienced team of creative professionals has come together for this uniquely formatted event: director Dalius Abaris, composer Kipras Mašanauskas, screenwriter Mindaugas Nastaravičius, music arranger Jievaras Jasinskis, and others. The concert features a large group of performers-members of the choir and dance troupe of The State Ensemble LIETUVA, guest instrumentalists, and two orchestras playing live on stage – the National Instruments Orchestra of LIETUVA, led by principal conductor Egidijus Kaveckas, and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, led by artistic director and chief conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius.

“From the constantly repeating flight path, from our daily journeys up and down and the symbol of infinity, reminiscent of the number eight – exactly that many different ANBO models were created. The concert’s dramaturgy will reflect the history of ANBO: the interwar context, the visions of aviation engineer, pilot, and Brigadier General A. Gustaitis, which we link to the history of flight and movement in the sky itself” – says director D. Abaris.

“Sky Builder” is a musical journey through time and space, where the boundary between symphonic and electronic sounds dissolves, where ethnic elements return in a modern form, and where everything becomes a gentle touch of space, of the sky, of infinity. “The videographic concert we will present to the audience will certainly be unexpected and unprecedented, and the powerful sound of the LSSO and the ensemble LIETUVA, complemented by the electronic sounds I have created, will transport you to another dimension” – reveals composer K. Mašanauskas.

The history of Lithuanian aviation from 1918 to 1940 is rich in events and figures that deserve special attention: A. Gustaitis with ANBO, Jurgis Dobkevičius with DOBI, Darius and Girėnas with the “Lituanica”, Feliksas Vaitkus with the “Lithuanica II” and flights across the Atlantic and around Europe. On July 14, 1925, the first of A. Gustaitis’s creations – the ANBO I, took to the skies. In 2025, we celebrated the centennial of that flight, so that year was declared the Year of the ANBO Aircraft and the Pioneers of Lithuanian Aviation.

The State Ensemble LIETUVA continues its campaign “Let’s Grow the Muscle of Unity” and invites everyone to come together through our shared history – a history that comes to life through significant events and figures on an innovative stage.

Inviting to unite: This project is partially funded by The Ministry of Culture, The Ministry of Transport and Communications, and The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania; media partners include – LRT and Kauno diena and partners include The Lithuanian Aviation Museum and The Vytautas the Great War Museum.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Composer: Kipras Mašanauskas

Conteptual Author, Director: Dalius Abaris

Screenwriter: Mindaugas Nastaravičius

Set Design: Dalius Abaris and Andrius Stasiulis

Video Graphics: Lukas Miceika

Lighting Design: Andrius Stasiulis

Choreographer: Aušra Krasauskaitė

Musical Arranger: Jievaras Jasinskis

Music Director and Conductor: Egidijus Kaveckas

PERFORMERS:

The State Ensemble LIETUVA

The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra

SOLOISTS:

Actor – Sky builder: Vaidas Maršalka

Pianist: Paulius Zdanavičius

Percussionist: Arkadijus Gotesmanas

Trumpeter: Laurynas Lapė

Kanklės (Box zither) Soloist: Lauryna Labutytė

Birbynė (Reed Pipe) Soloist: Arvydas Jankus

Oboist: Viktoras Palej

Electronic Instruments: Kipras Mašanauskas

Musical rehearsals in the concert hall of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, photos by GonaSell. Videographic concert in the Kaunas Sports Hall, photos by Martynas Vitėnas.