World premiere of the 21st International Folklore Festival „POKROVO VARPAI“: Leon SOMOV „ECHO OF THE PAST“

The international folklore festival „Pokrovo varpai“ is one of the oldest cultural events of national communities held in Lithuania, existing since 2006. Its name is linked to the Orthodox feast of the Pokrov (Intercession), symbolising spiritual protection, the continuity of traditions and communion. Over two decades the festival has become a significant cultural platform presenting not only the folklore of Lithuania's national communities, but also guests from more than 30 countries of the world – from Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine to India, Mexico and Japan. The festival brings together concerts, conferences, traditional singing workshops, educational events and World Music projects. Part I: Leon SOMOV „ECHO OF THE PAST“ (world premiere) This year's festival is ceremonially opened by a concert presenting the project ECHO OF THE PAST, ambitious in every sense, dedicated to performers of ethnic vocals and instrumental music, percussion and electronics. The work's author, Leon Somov, is one of the most prominent creators of innovative experimental electronic music in Lithuania. In the concert he will present a live electronic programme in which the voices of national minorities' traditions become sonic hypotheses about identity, memory and being here and now. Drawing on contemporary sound synthesis, live voice recordings, field sounds and the processing of modular synthesizer signals, old melodies will take on a new sound. This is not a reconstruction but a rebirth – listening without the boundaries of time. What remains of a song when you erase time? Part II: LIVING TRADITION In the second part of the concert, listeners will be invited on an inspiring journey through living traditions – the finest folklore ensembles from Armenia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Norway, Georgia, Serbia and Ukraine will perform. They will present unique, authentic examples of their lands' traditional music preserved to our day, in which the worldview, rhythms and layers of melodic memory of different peoples unfold. It is like a living dialogue with the past, allowing one to feel how tradition breathes today and how the voices of different cultures merge into a common, inspiring musical whole. The festival's opening concert is not only an exceptional musical event but also a meaningful cultural dialogue between peoples, styles and eras. It is intended for those seeking an unusual sound, deep emotions and cultural meaning.

Adresas: Lietuvos nacionalinė filharmonija