On August 27 at 8:00 p.m., Anykščiai St. closing of the organ music festival in the church of St. Matthew the Apostle Evangelist. Concert of young Lithuanian performers, camp participants in Anykščiai
Since 2000 Anykščiai St. ambassador gospel Matthew parish together with Seinė St. The Parish of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary organizes the international festival of young organists “Iuniores Priores Organorium”, uniting young performers. This festival is an exclusive and unique cultural event in Anykščiai, which makes our country famous on an international scale, popularizes classical music for the people of Anykščiai, gives them the opportunity to participate in high-level cultural events and admire the sound of the royal instrument – the organ.
The International Festival of Young Organists, which takes place on the first weekend of August, traditionally connects two cities – Anykščias and Seine, thus symbolically extending historical links: in 1897. Antanas Baranauskas, the most prominent person of the Anykščiai region, became the bishop of Seina. The unity of the two cities is strengthened by the majestic sounds of organ music in the sanctuaries of different countries.
The festival starts on Seina St. in the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and continues to Anykščiai St. ambassador gospel Matthew’s church, which, according to experts, has particularly excellent acoustics. The tracks are played with powerful 1999. equipped with 45 voices, 3 manuals, 2600 pipe organ, suitable for performing professional classical music. in 1998 in the fall they were brought from Great Britain, Southampton St. Lawrence Baptist Church. In a small English church, it was too cramped for such an organ, it stood divided into two parts. After the number of Baptists in the city decreased, the church was no longer able to maintain a powerful organ, so a small electric organ was bought, and it was decided to donate the old one to Anykščias. The installation of a new organ became the commemoration of the anniversary of 2000 years in Anykščiai St. Matthew parish.
in 1999 on September 25, in commemoration of the church’s 90th anniversary, the then bishop of Panevėžys, Juozas Preikšas, consecrated the organ.
According to specialists, this organ is considered one of the best in Lithuania.
At the festival, the works of the most famous European composers are performed by professors Jozeasf Serafinas, Bernhard Haas, Wanda Falk, Julijanas Gembalskis and their students, Bernardas Vasiliauskos, Leopoldas Digrys, and young people from Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic studying organ music at the Krakow and Warsaw Music Academy. The festival is traditionally patronized by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, the events are attended by the ambassadors of the performing countries and their representatives, and other distinguished guests.
Every year efforts are made to expand the activities of the festival. Since 2014 organizing the festival together with VšĮ “Prasmingas garsas” (director Stanislovas Aglinskas) expanded its activities: from 2015 residents of Anykštės have a rare opportunity to enjoy the spectacular lighting of the church, accompanied by the majestic sounds of organ music (program by organist Rimvydas Mitkaus and lighting specialist Arvydas Buinauskas).
Every year, the organ music festival once again confirms that the organ is not a church attribute with a narrow purpose, but a part of the cultural life of the region, which opens up the opportunity to learn about the musical heritage.
Source: Thumbs
