J. Haydn’s oratorio, written more than two hundred years ago, was presented in the Klaipėda State Musical Theatre hall “Jūra” as a visual narrative where music merged with light, imagery, scenography, costumes, and directing. The audience not only listened to the music but could also see it.
One of the most striking elements of the performance was the light. At the beginning of the piece, the dimness in the hall gradually changed, the first signs of light appeared, and together with the music, the world began to take shape. Lighting and scenography artist Arvydas Buinauskas and scenography artist Arturas Zamblauskas transformed the stage of the “Jūra” hall into part of the narrative. The images created by projection artists Linartas Urniežis, Martynas Dyša, and Lukas Miceika on the hall walls seemed to expand the stage space. The imagery changed along with the music and helped create different moods of the piece.
However, the center of this “The Creation of the World” was J. Haydn’s music. The oratorio’s score is full of great contrasts, vivid choral episodes, and sensitive solo parts, masterfully conducted by the oratorio’s music director and conductor Adrija Čepaitė, who led the KVMT symphony orchestra, theatre choir, state choir “Vilnius,” and soloists.
On stage appeared the Klaipėda-born Almas Švilpa (archangel Raphael), who sings on European stages, and KVMT soloists Rita Petrauskaitė (archangel Gabriel), Giedrius Gečys (archangel Uriel), Judita Butkytė (Eve), and Vilius Trakys (Adam).
Director Rūta Bunikytė chose to present Haydn’s music on stage through a shared atmosphere, changes in light and imagery, and the performers’ presence in a unique space. The audience was given the opportunity to create their own vision of the world’s creation.
An important part of the performance was the Lithuanian narration. Actor Darius Meškauskas helped follow the oratorio performed in German. The story told in Lithuanian allowed the audience to better understand what was happening on stage and how the individual musical episodes connected with each other.
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The visual world of the performance was complemented by costumes created by costume designer Vilija Šuklytė. Together with scenography, lighting, and projections, they helped distinguish different worlds and characters of the piece.
J. Haydn’s “The Creation of the World” became the first meeting with the audience of the VI Klaipėda Festival. The premiere also highlighted the possibilities of the KVMT hall “Jūra” – a large orchestra, choirs, soloists, and modern stage technologies came together in one space.
The VI Klaipėda Festival, dedicated this year to the 250th anniversary of the birth of Queen Louise of Prussia, will continue until September 5. On August 21 and 22, the festival program includes the premiere of the contemporary dance diptych
“Decrescendo” and “Hidden Landscapes.” On August 29, the French Youth Orchestra will perform in Klaipėda for the first time in Lithuania, and on September 5, the festival will conclude with the “Symphonic Adiemus” concert, bringing together hundreds of singers from the choral community of Western Lithuania.
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