Palestrina 500!

 

Few people are aware of the profound importance and far-reaching influence of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s music across Europe. Known as the "Prince of Music"—as inscribed on his tomb—Palestrina was the leading composer in service to the Vatican during the Counter-Reformation. His works were performed throughout the continent, from Portugal to Sweden and beyond.

Even fewer, however, know of Palestrina’s impact on musical development in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Remarkably, three of his direct students served as Kapellmeisters at the Vasa court: Annibale Stabile, Asprilio Pacelli, and Giovanni Francesco Anerio. Through them, the Roman School of Palestrina continued to thrive far beyond Italy.

To mark the 500th anniversary of Palestrina’s birth, the Kretinga Early Music Festival presents four concerts exploring various facets of his music and legacy.

• The world-renowned ensemble Vox Luminis, conducted by Lionel Meunier, will perform one of Palestrina’s most iconic a cappella works: the Missa Papae Marcelli.

• The talented organist Vincent Bernhardt will reveal the composer’s lasting influence on the organ repertoire in this year’s organ recital.

• The brilliant cornetto player Josué Meléndez presents a fascinating program highlighting Palestrina’s musical presence in colonial Mexico.

• The host ensemble, Canto Fiorito, will close this year’s edition with masterpieces including the Lamentations of Jeremiah, emphasizing Palestrina’s influence in Lithuania.

In addition to this exciting tribute, Kretinga will also host a recital by Christopher Lowry—one of today’s most astonishing countertenors—featuring a refined selection of English Baroque music. The fantastic baritone Marc Mauillon will join organetto player Roger Helou for a program of 14th-century music, evoking the ancestor of Kretinga’s organ. Finally, Mauillon will perform alongside lutenist Gabriel Rignol at the Kretinga Museum, presenting a selection of 17th-century Airs de cour.

Once again, the Kretinga Festival brings stars of the international early music scene to Lithuania, contributing to the country’s vibrant early music development and shining a light on its rich musical heritage.

 

Rodrigo Calveyra

Artistic director of the International Kretinga Early Music Festival

 

 

8 June at 6 pm – Pre-festival concert – Kretinga Franciscan Church

BAROQUE MOSAÏQUE: Orchestral Works by Bach, Vivaldi, Händel and Telemann

Ensemble Canto Fiorito, artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra, conductor, recorder (Brazil/France) & Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, artistic director Mindaugas Bačkus, cello

Renata Dubinskaitė, mezzo-soprano

Konrad Levicki, violin

Tomas Cinelis, violin

Anna Luiza Aleksandrow-Bertash, viola d‘amore

Ivan Bertash, alto

Jacopo Raffaele, harpsichord (Italy)

 

 

31 July at 7 pm – Festival opening concert – Kretinga Franciscan Church 

TIS NATURE'S VOICE: Music from England’s Shores

Christopher Lowrey, countertenor (USA/UK)

Michael Garrepy, organ (USA)

 

 

1 August at 7 pm – Kretinga Franciscan Church

MISSA PAPAE MARCELLI: Palestrina’s Masterpiece 

Ensemble Vox Luminis, artistic director Lionel Meunier (Belgium)

Iris Bouman, Victoria Cassano, Tessa Roos, Korneel Van Neste (cantus)

Jonathan Hanley, João Moreira (altus)

Olivier Berten, Adriaan De Koster, Massimo Lombardi, Angelo Testori (tenor)

Guglielmo Buonsanti, Lionel Meunier, Andrés Soler Castaño, Pieter Stas (bassus)

 

 

8 August at 7 pm – Organ solo recital – Kretinga Franciscan Church

PALESTRINA'S LEGACY ON THE ORGAN REPERTOILE

Vincent Bernhardt, organ (France)

 

 

10 August at 7 pm – Kretinga Museum Winter Garden

LAISSE-MOY SOUPIRER: Airs des Cours from the 17th Century

Marc Mauillon, baritone (France)

Gabriel Rignol, luth (France)

 

 

12 August at 7 pm – Kretinga Franciscan Church

ARS NOVA: Treasures of “Trecento”

Marc Mauillon, baritone (France)

Roger Helou, organetto (Argentina/France) 

 

 

21 August at 7 pm – Kretinga Franciscan Church

PALESTRINA IN MEXICO: 17th Century Transatlantic Musical Journey

Josué Meléndez, cornetto (Mexico/Switzerland)

Fabio de Cataldo, sackbut (Italy)

Maria Morozova, organ (Ukraine/Switzerland)

23 August at 7 pm – Closing Concert – Kretinga Franciscan Church

PALESTRINA AND HIS LEGACY IN LITHUANIA: Celebrating the 500th Birthday of the “Prince of Music”

Ensemble Canto Fiorito, artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra, cornetto (Brazil/France) 

Lina Dambrauskaitė & Ieva Gaidamavičiūtė, sopranos

Renata Dubinskaitė & Saulė Šerytė, mezzo-sopranos

Povilas Vanžodis, tenor

Nerijus Masevičius, bass

Josué Meléndez, cornetto(Mexico/Switzerland)

Miguel Tantos Sevillano, sackbut (Spain/UK)

Fabio de Cataldo, bass sackbut (Italy)

Davide Pozzi, organ (Italy)

All concerts in the church are free of charge (donations are welcome). Entry to the concert at the Kretinga Museum requires a museum ticket.

 

Additional festival events:

 

9 May at 11 am – Educational concert for pupils – Kretinga Franciscan Church

MEDIEVAL DELIGHTS

Ensemble Canto Fiorito, artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra, conductor, recorder (Brazil/France)

Renata Dubinskaitė, mezzo-soprano

Nerijus Masevičius, bass

Roger Helou, organetto (Argentina/France)

 

9 May at 3 pm – Charity concert for seniors – Padvariai Social Care Home

MEDIEVAL DELIGHTS 

Ensemble Canto Fiorito, artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra, conductor, recorder (Brazil/France)

Renata Dubinskaitė, mezzo-soprano

Nerijus Masevičius, bass

Roger Helou, organetto (Argentina/France)