Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 11, 2015
The Tenth North American Lithuanian Song Festival will take place on Sunday, July 5th, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Illinois Pavilion. The Festival will feature a collective choir of more than 1,400 singers from the United States, Canada, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. Notable participants from Lithuania will include acclaimed folk singer Rasa Serra, instrumentalist Saulius Petreikis, as well as several award-winning choirs.
The Festival program will include songs based on ancient folk melodies, traditional choral settings as well as contemporary arrangements. State-of-the-art audio and video effects, artful theatrical performances, and a massive collective choir will combine into an unforgettable experience of Lithuanian music and culture.
The first Lithuanian song festival was held in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1924. This tradition has continued in Lithuania on a quadrennial basis, with thousands of choristers and spectators gathering for a “Day of Songs” to celebrate their shared Lithuanian identity. During the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944-1990), Lithuanians of the free world organized parallel song festivals in the U.S. and Canada, which continue today.
Twenty five years ago, Lithuania began peaceful civilian protests against Soviet occupation. During the political upheavals of 1987-1991, Lithuania’s quest for freedom became known as “The Singing Revolution.” The people triumphed not by armed insurrection, but by courageous non-violent resistance…by daring to sing a forbidden song.
This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the reestablishment of Lithuania’s independence. In commemoration of that struggle, the X Song Festival will feature the world premiere of a spectacular five-part cantata “The Singing Revolution: Lithuania, You Arose with a Song!”
Everyone is invited to this unique choral event at the University of Illinois Pavilion, located at 525 S Racine Ave. Chicago, IL 60607. English language subtitles will be projected for the convenience of all who attend. For more information please visit the Song Festival website: http://www.lithuaniansongfest.org or contact the Festival’s organizing committee: info@dainusvente.org.
