Concert

Baltic Way 35 – a concert “650 KM OF FREEDOM” | Vilnius 08.23

Event date: 2024-08-23

Event starts: 19:00 Event ends: 20:30

Event place: Vilnius Cathedral Square

Let’s unite and celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way together at the concert 650 KM OF FREEDOM
23 August at 7 pm. Vilnius Cathedral Square

650 kilometers of freedom – that’s the length of the chain of people holding hands, recorded in history. There stood we, our parents and grandparents.

When the pursuit of freedom erupted beyond our borders 35 years ago, we showed the whole world how strong a common purpose unites the three Baltic states. “The Baltic Way, not the Berlin Wall, has become a symbol for the future of Europe” emphasised US President Joe Biden.
And what does freedom mean to us today?
The Baltic Way is the way of freedom. Freedom to think, to create, to travel, to be yourself… It is also a responsibility for this freedom. 650 KM OF FREEDOM is a symbolic reference to the path we have already walked and continue to walk in support of all those who fight for their freedom.

ARTISTS:

The state ensemble LIETUVA (LT)
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LT)
HAPPYENDLESS (LT)
Chamber Choir AIDIJA (LT)
The State Choir LATVIJA (LV)
TAUTUMEITAS (LV)
MAARJA NUUT (EE) and others

Music director and conductor: Modestas Pitrėnas
Guest conductors: Martinš Ozolinš (LV) and Erki Pehk (EE)
Author of musical compositions and arranger: Jievaras Jasinskis
Director: Dalius Abaris

INVITING TO UNITE:
Organisers: state ensemble LIETUVA and Lithuanian National Philharmonic
Main sponsor: ELEKTRUM
Project partially funded by: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius City Municipality
Information partner: LRT

More: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2314148/vilnius-to-host-concert-to-mark-35th-anniversary-of-the-baltic-way

#BaltijosKeliui35 #BalticWay35 #650kmLaisvės #650kmFreedom #650KilometersOfFreedom #650kilomeetritvabadust #Brīvība650kilometrugarumā

Baltic Way 35 – a concert “650 KM OF FREEDOM”

Let‘s unite and celebrate together the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way at the concert “650 KM OF FREEDOM” which will take place on 23 August at 7 PM in Vilnius Cathedral Square.

650 km of freedom – that’s the length of the living chain consisting of parents and grandparents holding hands. And what does freedom mean to us today?

The pursuit of freedom was no longer confined to the borders of our single country – 35 years ago, on the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, we showed the whole world how strong a common purpose unites the three Baltic States. “The Baltic Way, not the Berlin Wall, has become a symbol of Europe’s future”, underlined US President Joe Biden.

The Baltic Way is the Way of Freedom. Freedom to speak your mind, freedom to create, freedom to travel, freedom to be yourself… and responsibility for freedom. “650 KM OF FREEDOM” is a symbolic reference to the path we have already laid and which we are nurturing with the younger generation, together supporting those who are fighting for their own road of Freedom.

PERFORMERS:

The State Ensemble LIETUVA (LT)

Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LT)

Electronic music band HAPPYENDLESS (LT)

Chamber Choir AIDIJA (LT)

The State Choir LATVIJA (LV)

Folk-pop band TAUTUMEITAS (LV)

Maarja Nuut (EE) and others.

Concert music director, LNSO art director and head conductor – Modestas Pitrėnas

Latvian conductor – Martinš Ozolinš

Estonian conductor – Erki Pehk

Author of musical compositions and arranger – Jievaras Jasinskis

Director – Dalius Abaris

INVITING TO UNITE:

Organizers – The State Ensemble LIETUVA and Lithuanian National Philharmonic

Main sponsor of the event – ELEKTRUM LIETUVA. Energy unites!

The project is partly financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and Vilnius City Municipality

Information partner – LRT

#BalticWay35 #BaltijosKeliui35 #650kmFreedom #650kmLaisvės #650KilometersOfFreedom #650kilomeetritvabadust #Brīvība650kilometrugarumā

***

The State Ensemble “Lietuva” and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic are organising a large-scale concert “650 KM OF FREEDOM” to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way. 650 kilometres of freedom is a symbol of the living chain of people holding hands that stretched from Vilnius through Riga to Tallinn on the memorable 23rd August 1989. This will be the main free event marking the anniversary of the Baltic Way, a civic initiative throughout the Baltic region.

In the vision of director Dalius Abaris, after 35 years on the 650 kilometer freedom road, a creator who participated in the living chain of the Baltic Way while in his mothers arms descends into the historical past. That creator is the arranger and composer Jievaras Jasinskis. How do we feel about our freedom today? Do we know how to handle it, do we protect it, are we willing to do anything for it? The composer is looking for inspiration and rethinking all this by using contemporary means of expression – music, choral singing, visualisations, which will all come together during the concert at the Cathedral Square, in the very heart of the capital. The culminating event “650 KM LAISVĖS” will be broadcast live by information sponsor LRT.

The concert will feature the musical DNA of all the Baltic States, interweaving academic, arranged folk and electronic music genres. A common contemporary musical composition will bring together choirs, orchestras and performers from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, symbolising the unity of the three Baltic sisters. The state ensemble “Lietuva”, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, electronic music group “Happyendless”, Chamber Choir “Aidija”, The State Choir “Latvija”, Latvian folk-pop group “Tautumeitas”, Estonian artist Maarja Nuut and others will create an uplifting mood and perform joyful, festive music on one stage. This unique orchestra will be conducted by renowned conductors Erki Pehk from Estonia and Martins Ozolinš from Latvia. The visualisations of the musical programme will be created by young artists from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

On 9 July, a press conference was held at the Gediminas Castle Tower of the Lithuanian National Museum, where the historic Baltic Way began. The main event of this year’s Baltic Way anniversary, “650 KM OF FREEDOM”, and the symbol of the Baltic Way of Freedom were presented: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2314148/vilnius-to-host-concert-to-mark-35th-anniversary-of-the-baltic-way

The ensemble “Lietuva” continues its long-standing campaign “Let’s Grow the Muscle of Unity”, which is aimed at uniting people of different nations and religions, who have historically created the common history of our country.

Thanks for archives: Antanas Stanevičius, Romualdas Požerskis, ELTA and Central State Archive of Lithuania.

Photography by Martynas Vitėnas and Josvydas Elinskas (concert 650 KM OF FREEDOM) Photography by Martynas Vitėnas (press conference and #behindthescenes of video clip)