“I Am An Old Sailor“

KLAIPĖDA STATE MUSICAL THEATER
Theatrical concert of Eduardas Balsys songs “I am an old sailor”

Conductor – Vytautas Valys
Director – Rūta Bunikytė
The author of the arrangements is Rimantas Giedraitis

Artists:
Rosana Štemanetian, Judita Butkytė-Komovienė, Tadas Jakas, Modestas Narmontas, Vilius Trakys, Aurimas Raulinavičius, Ernesta Stankutė, Vitalija Trinkė

A semi-staged programme of Eduardas Balsys’ songs:

EDUARDAS BALSYS (1919–1984)
Habanera from the music for the film Adomas nori būti žmogumi (Adam Wants to Be a Man, dir. Vytautas Žalakevičius, 1959)
Songs:
“Baltijos jūrai” (To the Baltic Sea), text by Eugenijus Matuzevičius
“Jūreivių daina” (Sailors’ Song), text by Vytautas Bložė
“Lopšinė” (Lullaby), text by Kostas Kubilinskas
“Paskutinis skambutis” (Last Bell), text by Petras Stunžėnas
“Daina apie Klaipėdą” (Song About Klaipėda), text by Kostas Kubilinskas
“Daina apie tiltą” (Soung About a Bridge), text by Kostas Kubilinskas
“Žuvėdra, žuvėdra” (O, Seagull), text by Anzelmas Lileikis
“Lakštingala negali nečiulbėti” (The Nightingale Cannot Stop Singing), text by Salomėja Nėris
“Jūreivių užstalės daina” (Sailor’s Table Song), text by Vytautas Bložė
“Elektrėnų žiburiai” (Lights of Elektrėnai), text by Stasys Žlibinas
“Senas jūrininkas” (An Old Sailor), text by Vytautas Bložė

In 2019, the Klaipėda State Music Theatre joined the whole country in the centenary celebrations of the birth of composer Eduardas Balsys (1919–1984). As part of its anniversary programme, last summer the theatre presented a concert of his songs entitled “I am an old sailor.” At the same time, it was the theatre’s first attempt to organize the summer residency programme for young musicians and singers aspiring for future careers in musical theatre and to engage them in the performance of Lithuanian music. This concert programme, showcasing these young artists, was then prepared by conductor Egidijus Miknius and theatre director Rūta Bunikytė. Original scores by Balsys have been specially arranged by the experienced arranger and flautist of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre Orchestra, Rimantas Giedraitis. The arrangements were somewhat adapted to suit tastes or the young. The programme includes not only the famous song “Lights of Elektrėnai,” but also Balsys’ other songs about the sea, sailors and Klaipėda, which make a large portion of his creative legacy because he was raised in this region. This year the programme returns, introducing the youngest generation of singers accompanied by the instrumental group of the theatre’s orchestra.

Event duration: 1 hour.
Doors open before the event: 1 p.m.
Children are not admitted free of charge