VCO ROCK
Concert
Director:
Gediminas Šeduikis
VCO ROCK – an exclusive concert at the legendary Vilnius Sports Palace. The fusion of opera and rock by VCO brought audiences back — for one night only — to the cradle of Lithuanian rock history, steeped in the spirit of revolution remembered by many.
Following the hugely successful electronic music and opera synthesis project “XYZ”, VCO began fusing opera and rock music. More than 20 pieces from the most famous operas were conveyed using the language of rock by reversing the common formula where famous rock music is performed by orchestras. Instead of orchestra, singers were accompanied by a rock band composed of best musicians of this genre: with guitars, drums, and keyboards and without any musical embellishment. Under the roof of Vilnius Concerts and Sports Hall the sound of rock music was loud, original and powerful. After the first rehearsals it was so exciting that it made the singers, who had stood on the greatest opera stages of the world, want to put on leather jackets.
D. Ibelhauptaitė: “The decision to choose Vilnius Concerts and Sports Hall was not coincidental. This concert is a reminder to everyone about the rebellious nature of rock music in Lithuania and of how it evolved into the turbulent struggle for independence. Lithuanian Marches of Rock evoked in people a kind of unity which would be difficult to replicate in the modern society. Rock music is a part of our history, Vilnius Concerts and Sports Hall is a legendary place, therefore, it feels really good to have the support of so many people. We want for one evening to re-live our youth and to show today’s young people that opera is passionate and rebellious just like rock music! It was more challenging to organize a concert at Vilnius Concerts and Sports Hall than it would be to fly to the Moon... But we succeeded. I fear that it will be the last live concert in this legendary space...”
Creators
Music director
Tomas Varnagiris
Costume designer
Dainius Bendikas
Sound designer
Ričardas Batulionis
Performers
Participating in performance
Martynas Lukoševičius
Drums
Tomas Maslauskas
Bass guitar
Audrius Piragis
Lead guitar
Tomas Varnagiris
Lead guitar
Paulius Zdanavičius
Keyboard
Premiere: 2013 November 10
PROGRAM
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Overture from the opera “Carmen” by G. Bizet (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“Lascia ch'io pianga” Almirena’s aria from the opera “Rinaldo” by F. Handel VIKTORAS GERASIMOVAS (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“Come scoglio” Fiordiligi’s aria from the opera “Così fan tutte” by W. A. Mozart JOANA GEDMINTAITĖ (arranged by Jievaras Jasinskis) |
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“Una furtiva lagrima” Nemorino’s aria from the opera The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore) by G. Donizetti TOMAS PAVILIONIS (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“Largo al factotum” Figaro’s aria from the opera “The Barber of Seville” by G. Rossini LAIMONAS PAUTIENIUS (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“E lucevan le stelle” Cavaradossi’s aria from the opera “Tosca” by G. Puccini KRISTIAN BENEDIKT (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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“Ombra mai fu” from the opera “Serse” by F. Handel AUŠRINĖ STUNDYTĖ (arranged by Paulius Zdanavičius) |
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“Le veau d'or” (The Golden Calf) Mephistopheles’ aria from the opera “Faust” by Ch. Gounod TADAS GIRININKAS (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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“La ci darem la mano” duet from the opera “Don Giovanni” by W. A. Mozart LAIMONAS PAUTIENIUS, JOANA GEDMINTAITĖ (arranged by Paulius Zdanavičius) |
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“Questa o quella” The Duke’s aria from the opera “Rigoletto” by G. Verdi TOMAS PAVILIONIS (arranged by Paulius Zdanavičius) |
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“Deh, vieni, alla finestra” aria from the opera “Don Giovanni” by W. A. Mozart KOSTAS SMORIGINAS (arranged by Audrius Piragis) |
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“Habanera” Carmen’s aria from the opera “Carmen” by G. Bizet AUŠRINĖ STUNDYTĖ (arranged by Paulius Zdanavičius) |
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Flower Duet from the opera “Lakmė” by L. Delibes ASMIK GRIGORIAN, JOANA GEDMINTAITĖ (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“Va, Tosca” (Te Deum) Scarpia’s aria from the opera “Tosca” by G. Puccini LAIMONAS PAUTIENIUS (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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“Armate face et anguibus” from “Juditha Triumphans” by A. Vivaldi VIKTORAS GERASIMOVAS (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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“Votre Toast, je peux vous le rendre” Escamillo’s aria from the opera “Carmen” by G. Bizet KOSTAS SMORIGINAS (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
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“Casta diva” Norma’s aria from the opera “Norma” by V. Bellini ASMIK GRIGORIAN (arranged by Paulius Zdanavičius) |
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“Di quella pira” Manrico’s aria from the opera “Il trovatore” by G. Verdi KRISTIAN BENEDIKT (arranged by Audrius Piragis) |
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Varlaam’s Song from the opera “Boris Godunov” by M. Mussorgsky TADAS GIRININKAS (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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“Song to the moon” Rusalka’s aria from the opera “Rusalka” by A. Dvořák ASMIK GRIGORIAN (arranged by Vytautas Diškevičius) |
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Finale from the opera “Così fan tutte” by W. A. Mozart ALL PERFORMERS (arranged by Tomas Varnagiris) |
WHY “VCO ROCK”?
Why not? You’d be surprised how many Vilnius City Opera projects have been inspired by this very question. Try putting a wall in our way - and we’ll gladly try to break it down. We’ve done it before: with the electronic music fantasy XYZ, with visual choices in our productions that scandalized opera purists, and with a promise we made to ourselves from the very beginning - no matter what, never be afraid to play. Because what is the foundation of stage art, if not play?
This time, we’re walking the most famous classical composers, our best opera voices, and the raw passion of rock music down the aisle. Merging mature classical music with something fresh and new is a mission for which people have sacrificed days and nights - never once complaining about overtime. Hours and hours of laughter and struggle, trying to grow into unusual roles, driven by passion and unafraid of setbacks. We burst with joy every time an aria gave in to new rock twists - from bluesy intonations to fierce punk energy.
Everyone who had a hand in VCO Rock will tell you the same: this is something special. From every rock note to the set design and video projections - we want to create a night for you that doesn’t come around every day. Not even every month. Maybe not even every year.
We don’t know what W. A. Mozart or G. Bizet would think about their sound in rock style. What we do know is that great composers and rock music share one thing: passion. Passion to explore, passion for the new. Passion to rebel.
Speaking of rebellion - when VCO Rock first began to take shape, we had no idea that even our decision to bring back the Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports for one night could be seen as controversial. But this place - it’s special. It became a music temple for an entire generation of rock lovers. From Algirdas Kaušpėdas to Andrius Mamontovas - each one will tell you that deep in their hearts, they’ve saved a special place for memories of this stage. This building symbolizes eras, emotions, first loves, and the first time music truly struck the soul.
What shakes us from routine often hits barriers. We apologize to anyone whose minds caught fire over this idea. But this is who we are - lovers of provocation, adventurers who dive headfirst into the unknown, fighters who claw for the right to walk their own path. And we’re sure that you, who are with us tonight, are the same.
It’s good to know that.
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