On the eve of M. K. Čiurlionis' 150th birthday, a concert dedicated to the artist's birth anniversary was held at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (UMFC) in Warsaw. This event marked his symbolic return to his alma mater – it was at this university (then known as the Warsaw Music Institute) that Čiurlionis studied and created his works.

A significant stage

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis studied at the Warsaw Music Institute from 1894 to 1899. His teacher in composition was Zygmunt Noskowski, and his piano teacher was Antoni Sygietyński.

Čiurlionis' final work, for which he received a diploma in composition in 1899, was the cantata for mixed choir and symphony orchestra De Profundis. During his music studies, the composer also wrote other works for piano, string quartet, and choir that are familiar to listeners. At the Warsaw Music Institute, he also formed the most important friendships of his life with other artists, including composer Eugeniusz Morawski-Dąbrowa, with whom he shared a very similar outlook on life and art.

Concert – The Palette of M. K. Čiurlionis' Work

"The uniqueness of tonight's concert lay not only in the symbolic idea of Čiurlionis' return, but also in the form of the concert itself. Each performer contributed their own unique touch to this evening's story about Čiurlionis – an artist whose art is as relevant today as it was 120 years ago," said Ana Kočegarova-Maj, Lithuanian cultural attaché in Poland and initiator of the concert.

The program was created by young UMFC performers from various specializations: a string quartet (Amelia Mońko, Ireneusz Szarszaniewicz, Barbara Kucharzyk, Zuzanna Konstantynowicz), organist Yana Rechkina, harpists Kalina Nowaczek and Maria Łepkowska, and the Chamber Choir of the Chopin University. This polyphony allowed the multifaceted palette of M. K. Čiurlionis' work to unfold – from the intimacy of chamber music to sacred grandeur. The program was complemented by pianist Józef Domżało's interpretations, which subtly emphasized the unique musical language of the Lithuanian composer.

The concert brought together important Polish institutions and researchers of Čiurlionis for a joint project commemorating him

Prof. Rafał Grząka, Vice-Rector of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, emphasized in his speech during the event that this concert was exceptional not only because of the anniversary, but also because Čiurlionis, as a graduate of this institution, was being presented so widely at the university for the first time and with great pride. Joanna Orlik, Deputy Director of the Polish National Cultural Center, co-organizer of the event, also said: "This concert is not only a symbolic tribute to an extraordinary artist, but also a sign of the profound significance of Čiurlionis in our shared cultural history of Poland and Lithuania."

Dr. Paweł Siechowicz, a researcher of Čiurlionis' work, gave a detailed presentation of the works included in the concert program and their significance to the artist himself, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of Čiurlionis' work: "Many artists of the early 20th century sought inspiration in music, but Čiurlionis' example is exceptional. He was a painter who had a musical education and had mastered the craft of composition. In his paintings, Čiurlionis often depicts the world through the eyes of a composer – they always reveal an effort to reveal the order of the world."

Future plans

According to Ana Kočegarova-Maj, Lithuanian cultural attaché in Poland, the concert is not the last collaborative project between the organizers: "We are delighted that this event has inspired a new generation of musicians and that Čiurlionis has symbolically become part of university life. We plan to continue our cooperation with the university: to continue educating students and encouraging them to prepare for Čiurlionis piano and organ competitions. We still have many Čiurlionis Year events ahead of us in Poland – from commemorative projects in Marki Pustelnik, the place of Čiurlionis' death, to concerts by the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and the Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw and Wrocław, as well as an exhibition of Čiurlionis' photographs and the presentation of his correspondence to the Polish audience."

News

The 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was commemorated with a concert "Music and Colors: Deeper Than the Eye Can See" at the Chisinau Organ Hall.

Other News

Works by great composers from Lithuania and Azerbaijan were performed in Baku

"Čiurlionis. Sound and Vision" in Prague invited viewers to listen, observe, and gain a deeper understanding of MKČ's work

M. K. Čiurlionis' anniversary celebrated at the composer's alma mater in Warsaw

The music of M. K. Čiurlionis resounded in the Czech Music Museum, and paintings were created with the participation of the audience

The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Kaliningrad celebrated M.K. Čiurlionis' birthday and awarded the winners of the drawing competition

The 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was commemorated with a concert "Music and Colors: Deeper Than the Eye Can See" at the Chisinau Organ Hall.