„Here with you it is so warm, cozy and good to be. A special aura,“ – these words were heard by the festival organizers from „Bardai LT“ – Alina Semionova, Benas Jakštas and the festival team from participants, spectators and volunteers throughout the three days of the festival.
„Purple Evening“ as every year took place in different places in Anykščiai – the central city square, the public city library, the Arts Incubator, the Culture Center, the church chapel, Writers’ Hill and Dainuva Valley.
„When you see bright, smiling or thoughtful faces of people, when you watch how musicians and actors who haven’t met for a long time communicate, you understand that „Purple Evening“ has meaning and is needed. It seems we managed to create a real celebration – for ears, eyes and hearts,“ says A. Semionova.
The 19th „Purple Evening“ began at Anykščiai Bishop’s Square. The group „Vitražai“ from Raudondvaris dedicated the concert to their founder, one of the pioneers of dialect sung poetry in Lithuania and a longtime friend of the festival, Algirdas Svidinskas.
In the cinema hall of the Anykščiai Culture Center, the documentary film „Life After Death“ by director and philosopher Nerijus Milerius was shown. After the screening, one of the film’s heroes – actor Dainius Gavenonis – met with the audience.
It is symbolic that three participants of this film met in the festival program – D. Gavenonis presented the film, Rasa Samuolytė read Daiva Čepauskaitė’s poetry in the „Midnight Readings“, and Juozas Budraitis presented the photo exhibition „Walls and People“ at the Anykščiai Arts Incubator.
For the first time on Writers’ Hill, the program „Rhythmic Texts“ specially created for the festival by writer Rimantas Kmita and percussionist Gintas Gascevičius was presented. Literature and live percussion turned into an unexpected, dynamic sound of texts.
The festival audience met with poet, writer and director Alvydas Šlepikas, watched the documentary film „Rockstar from the Forests. Mikas Suraučius“ by Adomas Liutkevičius, participated in the improvisation show „Another Corner“, and families were invited to Jonas Baltokas’ musical performance.
The main festival concerts in Dainuva Valley combined different music genres and generations of creators. The audience’s discovery was the Irish and Danish trio „Culchie“, and the program „Pure Satires“ by Aistė Smilgevičiūtė and the group „Skylė“ attracted viewers’ attention.
Two festival evenings were accompanied by Pijus Opera – the host of the first concert stepped on stage with the group in the second. The creator combining rap, poetry and improvisation became like a symbol of the big „Purple“ concerts.
On Friday in Dainuva Valley also performed Titas (Miškas), Jonas Baltokas trio, Kazimieras Likša, Tadas Daumantas and Martynas Vilpišauskas, „FC Baseball“, „Daddy Was A Milkman“ with Latvian guitarist Gints Smukais.
Read more «Over morning coffee»: showed a drone attack on the largest Wildberries center in Russia
At the final concert, the audience was greeted by Aurimas Liudvinavičius, Gytis Ambrazevičius, Živilė Mackevičiūtė, Andrius Kaniava, Domantas Razauskas, „Kamanių šilelis“, Alina Orlova with Paulius Vaškeliu and Aidas Gecevičius and other performers. While legendary songs of „Hiperbolė“, performed by one of the founders of „Hiperbolė“ – Viktoras Prapras, were playing, the entire Dainuva Valley sang along. Time-tested music can unite different generations of listeners.
The atmosphere of the Saturday concert was created by TV show host Ignas Krupavičius. Visiting the festival for the first time, he interviewed the organizers for almost ten years on the morning show. „It seems I already know everything about „Purple Evening“,“ he joked.
One of the most touching moments of the festival was the „In memoriam“ dedicated to actor, director and songwriter Kostas Smoriginas. A clip from the creator’s last public performance was shown on the video screen, and the song „The sky gave you height“ was sung together by the entire Dainuva Valley.
„It was hard to hold back tears. One of those moments when a thousand-strong audience welcomes music standing not with noise, but with silence, memory and gratitude,“ share the festival organizers.
The festival traditionally remembered actor and songwriter Saulius Mykolaitis. The prize named after him for a young creator was awarded for the fourteenth time this year. The prize was received on stage by the Alikėjas Džiugas Karoblis.
„I was very surprised to receive this prize. I did not expect it at all. It is nice when someone notices your creative journey and rejoices in it,“ said the young singer upon receiving the prize.
D. Karoblis admitted that he does not really know what sung poetry is. He himself does not yet sing songs based on poets’ poems. „I wouldn’t say that my song lyrics can be called poetry,“ he smiled. „But I try to make them meaningful.“
The performer, who listened to many Vytautas Kernagis songs in childhood, is convinced that the genre of sung poetry will live as long as poetry lives. „And poetry will live as long as language lives. I especially invite young creators to protect and love it,“ said the laureate of the S. Mykolaitis prize.
Although after three intense days the festival team still lives with pleasant fatigue, there will be no time to rest for long. Next year the „Purple Evening“ will take place for the 20th time, and „Bardai LT“ is already starting to consider how the jubilee festival will surprise Anykščiai and its loyal audience. The festival was funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Anykščiai District Municipality.
Read more Jasikevičius opened up: said which country’s national team his son Lukas will play for
