Story opera “Klaipėda”: the legend about the unification of Little and Great Lithuania is told in the language of music

The 3rd International Klaipėda Festival presented the story opera “Klaipėda” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the annexation of the Klaipėda region to Lithuania in Paulius Lindenau’s boat, as if once again connected Little Lithuania to Great Lithuania through the language of art. The Klaipėda State Musical Theater, which has been preparing this exceptional premiere for more than two years, received many ovations!

On behalf of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre, this opera was written by four seaside composers: Loreta Narvilaitė (first act), Vladimiras Konstantinovas (second act and prologue and epilogue), Donatas Bielkauskas and Kristijonas Lučinskas (third act). The libretto was written by Arvydas Juozaitis. The music director and conductor of the performance Tomas Ambrozaitis, director Gytis Padegimas, scenographer and costume designer Birutė Ukrinaitė, choreographer Aušra Krasauskaitė.

The director of the story opera “Klaipėda” G. Padegimas says that with this production he wanted to look at the events of Klaipėda’s annexation to Lithuania as if it were a legend. “It’s not that we want to recreate historical characters, exact dates… The history opera “Klaipėda” does not focus on the reproduction of historical events, but on the presentation of a legend. The first remark of Arvydas Juozaitis, author of the libretto of the story opera “Klaipėda”, is very beautiful to me: “Through the fog you can see the spiers of Klaipėda’s churches”. And we, the creators of the story opera, see this story as if through a fog a century later,” says G. Padegimas.

Choreographer A. Krasauskaitė said that the greatest challenge of the creative process was the need to connect and control many people on stage. After all, the premiere brought together not only the KVMT orchestra, choir, soloists, and ballet troupe, but also the folklore collective of the Klaipėda Ethnoculture Center “Alka” (directors Elena Šalkauskienė and Jonas Kavaliauskas). “I am very happy that I can create choreography for the story opera “Klaipėda”, which is like a birthday present for my city! I am proud and congratulate”, says A. Krasauskaitė.

One of the most prominent in this history is Jonas Polovinskas-Budrys, a former bookseller and scout who came from Great Lithuania. Valdas Kazlauskas, who recently performed as Aquarius in the opera “Mermaid”, took on this role. The very important role of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Ernesto Galvanauskas, was played by the soloist Aurimas Raulinavičius. The history opera “Klaipėda” brought together a whole group of bright personalities of the country’s history: evangelical priest Vilius Gaigalaitis – soloist Šarūnas Juškevičius, political leader of the Klaipėda uprising Erdmons Simonaitis – soloist Šarūnas Šapala, printer Martynas Jankus – soloist Mindaugas Rojus, M. Jankaus’ daughter Elzė – soloist Rosana Štemanetian , the young writer Ėvė Simonait (Ieva Simonaitytė) – soloist Ernesta Stankutė, her mother Ėtmė Simonait – soloist Rita Petrauskaitė, the chairman of the Riflemen’s Union Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius – soloist Kęstutis Nevulis, one of the leaders of the uprising Mikas Bajor – soloist Virginijus Pupšys. A very interesting character is Gabrielis Žanas Petisnė, prefect of Mēmelis – the part was performed by a young and very promising soloist Giedrius Gečys, Petisnė’s woman, for whom Klaipėda is the corner of the world – soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė. “Many bright, interesting soloists in small roles or even cameos, because many historical figures contributed to the uprising. This was probably the idea of ​​the libretto author Arvydas Juozaitis – to present a wide panorama of personalities without focusing on one, because almost each of these characters is worthy of a separate novel or opera”, revealed G. Padegimas.

By the way, in the story opera “Klaipėda” next to historical figures, the incarnations of “local spirits” appear, as, for example, the sculpture Tarava’s Anikė – Yuliia Kovalenko is revived, Vaida Galinskienė, who teaches the Šišioniški dialect, has become the spirit of the Šišioniškii.

B. Ukrinaitė’s scenography is always exceptional in its lightness, sustainability and deep meaning. This is what the story opera “Klaipėda” is intended for. In the scene, you can also see the frames of an old bridge, smoothed by water for several centuries, a “one-legged” arch made of natural wood, etc. “An arch without a leg is like a new step. The Ark consists of all the people who fought for this historic event, their personal dramas and sacrifices. This arch is like our land”, says B. Ukrinaitė.

In the finale of the story opera “Klaipėda”, the words of the writer Ēvė Simonaitė (Ieva Simonaitytė) “We are one nation, one land, one Lithuania!”, which are also written on the monument to a united Lithuania “Arka” standing in Klaipėda (sculptor Arūnas Sakalauskas, 2003). It was here that all the numerous characters of the play gathered. The finale of the opera is like a general tribute to historical figures and recognition of the country’s unity, which is particularly important at this time.

KVMT inf.