“Sofia’s Spring” begins in Kuliai – the cultural festival will last for two months Culture

A wide program of cultural and educational events will be presented during “Sofia’s Spring”, most of the events will take place on Saturdays. Gathering the community in cultural and educational activities was one of the main activities of Sofijas Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė, who lived in Kuliai.

The opening night of the festival program, which will last several months, is on Saturday, April 13. The program will begin with the actors’ concert “One carefree evening”, which will feature original music, songs by bards, and pieces from performances. Folk songs arranged by the actors, other original compositions and synth-funk music will be heard.

Photo by E. Sabaliauskaitė/Evelina and Gytis Šimelionis

Performances will be organized by the acting groups “Graži ir ta galinga”, “Kvadrobika”, soloists Vilija Matačiūnaitė, Evelina and Gytis Šimelioniai and other stage professionals who are connected by working with the same teachers – Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater professor, actor Valentin Masalskis and composer Nijole Sinkevičiūtė .

Photo by Edita Grudzinskaitė-Gruodis/Valentinas Masalskis

After the colorful spring opening concert, there will be something to come to Kulius every Saturday until the end of June. The exhibition of graphic artist Eimutis Markūnas and sculptor Mykolas Saukas will be opened in the unique premises of “Kultūros virenes”. “Kultūros virene” is an authentically reconstructed community space that opened its doors last year and is located in an 18th-century building belonging to the cultural heritage register. in the building.

Photo by E.Sabaliauskaitė/”Kultūros virenė” in Kuliai

Lectures will also be held under the vaults of “Kultūras virenė” on Saturdays – writer and playwright Mindaugas Nastaravičius will invite to talk regarding the best and most read books, pedagogue Ričardas Jankauskas will give a presentation on modern art, and philosopher Alvydas Jokubaitis will offer to discuss the aesthetic nature of politics. The conference “Solo cultural business in the region: how to create value?” will also be held in the spring of Sofia.

Skirmantas Lisauskas/BNS photo/Mindaugas Nastaravičius

The Kuliai Book Club will meet once more under the vaults of “Kultūras virenes” – the organizers invite you to prepare in advance for a discussion regarding loneliness by reading two books: O. Laing’s “Lonely City” and G. Žalytė’s “Nature Therapy”.

Musical events are an integral part of the cultural life of the Kulais. Sofia’s spring program includes a concert by the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra and a meeting with its leader, cellist Mindaugas Bačkus, an evening of electronic music with Martyn Bialobžeskis and a musical meeting called “Sofia’s world”, where saxophonist Petras Vyšniauskas will read S. Kymantaitė-Čiurlionė’s texts in the Sami language, and pianist Aleksandra Žvirblytė will improvise.

Eriko Ovčarenko/BNS photo/Mindaugas Bačkus

There will also be theater premieres in Sofia’s spring – the play “Summer Day” will be presented by Klaipėda Youth Theater and director Paulius Pinigis. The event program also includes screenings of the latest virtual reality films, a meeting with Sofija Čiurlionienė-Kymantaitė’s creative researcher Dr. Nida Gaidauskienė, and the festival in Kulių Park under the oaks of Vaižgant on June 22. will be closed by the international Vilnius choir “The Garfunkels”.

The activities of the Sofia Festival are supported by the Lithuanian Culture Council and the Plungė District Municipality.

Most program events are free. More information: Facebook and Instagram accounts “Sofia Festival”.