LVSO SEASON OPENING CONCERT: M. DE FALLA. LA VIDA BREVE

CONCERT PROGRAM
M. de Falla. Opera “La vida breve” (Eng. A Short Life) (concert performance)

The concert is one act without an intermission.

ADRIANA GONZÁLEZ, soprano
JUSTINA GRINGYTĖ, mezzo-soprano
EDGARAS MONTVIDAS, tenor
JORIS RUBINOVAS, bass-baritone
ROMANAS KUDRIAŠOVAS, baritone
TOMAS PAVILIONIS, tenor
UGNĖ STRAŽNICKAITĖ, mezzo-soprano
RICARDO FERNÁNDEZ DEL MORAL POZUELO, guitar
VERÓNICA PULLIDO, flamenco dancer
KAUNAS STATE CHOIR (artistic director and chief conductor Robertas Šervenikas)
LITHUANIAN STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Conductor GINTARAS RINKEVIČIUS

The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, led by its artistic director and chief conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius, begins its 38th concert season with a vibrant work of Spanish temperament – Manuel de Falla's (1876–1946) opera “A Short Life”.

The opera was born after a very long and meticulous creative process: written in 1904–1905, it saw the light of the stage in April 1913 in Nice, France. After the first premiere, taking into account Claude Debussy's suggestions, M. de Falla transformed the initial numerical form of the opera into a work characterized by a more cohesive musical texture and more mature orchestration. It was this version, which premiered at the Opéra-Comique theatre in Paris in December 1913, that became the standard performance version of the opera.

In creating the opera “A Short Life,” the renowned composer achieved a level of artistic mastery and ethnic authenticity that had not been realized in any previous Spanish lyrical drama. M. de Falla combined professional orchestration, expressive melody, and traditional Spanish folk music elements. This allowed this opera to stand out from other works of the same genre that lacked a universal style and technique. Furthermore, it is unusual in that the instrumental part is given almost as much musical space as the vocal part.

This is a story of great passion and love that cannot transcend social boundaries, of a fate that brings ruin even to the purest desires. The main plot revolves around Salud, madly in love with Paco, but unaware that he is already promised to another. Salud's uncle Salvador and her grandmother try to prevent her from disrupting Paco's upcoming wedding. The second act unfolds during a conflict at the wedding celebration and ultimately ends with Salud's broken heart and her dramatic death at Paco's feet – a poignant expression of contempt for her former beloved. Between celebration and sorrow, between love and betrayal, a drama is born where the human heart becomes an instrument of tragic fate.

During the event, photographs and videos will be taken. Event photos and videos may be posted on publicly accessible social networks, websites, and media outlets for event publicity purposes.