Experience this boundless pleasure in the 111th season, on November 22, offered by the Vilnius Old Theater, which looks back on the history of the Theater building and, responding to the era of the Opera and Ballet Theater that existed there for many years, initiates musical programs and opera productions.
Concerts will also take place in the regions of Lithuania: on November 21 – at the Visaginas Cultural Center “Draugystė”, and on November 23 – at the Vilkaviškis Cultural Center. This series of concerts is a musical prelude to the premiere of GF Handel’s opera “Acis and Galatea” which will take place in the spring of 2025 in the Old Theater of Vilnius, in which St. Christopher’s chamber orchestra is already playing baroque strums.
Trevor Pinnock is a pioneer of the revival of early music in Europe
Trevor Pinnock (b. 1946) is a world-renowned harpsichordist, conductor and one of the most important pioneers of the early music revival in Europe. T. Pinnock established his name as a master of baroque and classicism, in 1972. who founded the baroque orchestra “The English Concert”.
This orchestra, performing in the 17th and 18th centuries. works with authentic instruments, became famous for historical musical interpretations. T. Pinnock led “The English Concert” until 2003. During his career with Deutsche Grammophon, Pinnock has recorded numerous solo works, including JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations and scores, and his latest recordings feature JS Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier and a unique arrangement of Józef Koffler’s Goldberg Variations.
The conductor has also worked with prestigious orchestras, including the Chamber Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music, Amsterdam Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest, Bremen Deutsche Kammerphiharmonie, Salzburg Mozarteumorchester and stood at the conductor’s desk of the Metropolitan Opera.
He serves as Principal Conductor of Tokyo’s Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra and is Artistic Director of the Anima Mundi Festival in Pisa. For services to the arts, Pinnock was awarded the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992, and in 1998 received the French Order of Arts and Letters (“Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”).
T. Pinnock: “I was interested in how the works could have sounded in their time”
T. Pinnock’s journey into the world of music began as a child, when he became interested in early music and the harpsichord. The talented young man studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and, in order to reveal the music of baroque and classicism as authentically as possible, he set himself the goal of playing instruments reminiscent of historical times rather than modern ones.
T. Pinnock remembers the beginning of his career as a time when his attitude towards music changed: “When I started, we were taught to think of compositions as finished works, but I was interested in how they might have sounded in their time. I wanted to perform music in such a way that listeners could not only hear the sounds, but also feel the entire historical context.”
T. Pinnock implemented this idea in 1972. – founded the orchestra “The English Concert”, which became a famous standard of authentic performance of early music. The aim and challenge of “The English Concert” is to combine authentic sound with a contemporary sensibility so that listeners can feel that they are dealing with the past as if it were here and now,” T. Pinnock has said. The ensemble became a source of inspiration for early music performers around the world and helped establish the movement of authentic early music performance in Europe.
Old music today – how to keep it alive?
During his multi-year career, T. Pinnock not only actively played, but also educated, spreading his approach to music itself, emphasizing the vitality and relevance of old music. “Music is a way to look at the past and recreate certain things that may be relevant in our time. I am convinced that through music we can go back to historical times and talk about the present. Such an approach allows works of old music to sound new and meaningful even when performed for today’s listeners,” says T. Pinnock.
T. Pinnock emphasizes that each performance is not only a technique, but also an emotional experience: “Every time I turn to a Handel or Bach score, I feel like I’m starting all over again. It’s a process that never ends.” When he performs his music, he kind of recreates the music, making it sound to today’s listeners, but at the same time maintaining authenticity and historical accuracy.
Handel, Mozart – charm and energy, beauty and inevitable sadness
Endless Pleasure will feature music by GFHändel and WAMozart performed by St. Kristoforos Chamber Orchestra, international wind ensemble and soloist Lauryna Bendžiūnaitė. According to T. Pinnock, the music of Handel and Mozart transcends the boundaries of time and connects us to the essence of humanity: “Handel manages to immerse us in a very diverse range of feelings. His music has the charm and energy that the modern listener needs. It’s not just nostalgic music, it’s a powerful and wonderful feeling that we share with the audience.”
WAMozart’s work is also special for T. Pinnock: “Mozart’s music is the only one for me that combines perfect beauty and inevitable sadness. It brings a smile and at the same time reminds us of our fragility.”
Each scene and audience has its own character
Each stage and audience acquires a special meaning in T. Pinnock’s performances: “Music is not just a sound that spreads on the stage. Every stage and audience has its own character, and this changes the meaning of music.” His belief in the power of music and its impact on the listeners will undoubtedly be revealed in the concert at the Old Theater in Vilnius. The world’s most famous concert and theater halls have been delighted by the highest level of craftsmanship, the space that evokes the aura of the Opera and Ballet Theater, the excellent acoustics – isn’t this a boundless pleasure?
Concerts in the regions: Visaginas and Vilkavišky
The “Endless Pleasure” concert, which will be conducted by T. Pinnock, will be heard not only by residents of the capital, but also by visitors to Vilkaviškis and Visaginas cultural centers. This unique opportunity for the residents of the region to get to know the greats of classical music is not only the mission of Vilnius Old Theater – to bring the audience closer to professional art, but also the desire of the performers themselves – to be as close as possible to every person who wants to hear them better thanks to music.
This will undoubtedly be an exceptional musical journey and a prelude to the production of GFHändel’s opera “Acis and Galatea” in the spring of 2025 at the Old Theater of Vilnius with T. Pinnock’s friend and director Gintarus Varna. According to the conductor, this opera is one of his favorite GFHändel works: “Händel is able to convey myths and fairy tales in such a way that they speak to us about humanity. “Acis and Galatea” is a story of love that defies all obstacles. This theme is relevant in any culture or era.”
Concerts:
November 21 6:30 p.m. Visaginas cultural center “Draugystė” (Parko st. 7, Visaginas);
November 22 6:30 p.m. in the old theater of Vilnius (J. Basanavičius st. 13, Vilnius);
November 23 6:30 p.m. in the Vilkaviškis cultural center (Vytauto st. 28, Vilkaviškis).
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**Interview with Trevor Pinnock: A Pioneering Force in Early Music**
*Interviewer*: Trevor, thank you for joining us today. It’s exciting to hear about the upcoming concerts, especially the “Endless Pleasure” concert in Vilnius. What can you tell us about the significance of this event?
*Trevor Pinnock*: Thank you for having me! The “Endless Pleasure” concert is an opportunity to explore the rich musical heritage of composers like Handel and Mozart. It’s part of a broader initiative to honor the history of the Old Theater in Vilnius and to bring authentic performances of early music to a contemporary audience. We want to show people how vibrant and relevant this music can be.
*Interviewer*: You’ve had a remarkable career working to revive early music. Can you share your motivation behind this passion?
*Trevor Pinnock*: Absolutely. My journey began when I was a child fascinated by early music and the harpsichord. I wanted to explore how these works might have sounded in their original context. Music is not just about perfection; it’s about recreating the emotional experience and connecting with historical times. Every performance is an opportunity to make the past resonate with today’s listeners.
*Interviewer*: You mentioned the importance of the emotional aspect of music. How do you bring this to life in your performances?
*Trevor Pinnock*: Each performance is a unique experience. I believe every stage and audience has its own character, which changes the meaning of the music. When I approach works by composers like Handel or Bach, it feels like starting anew each time. My goal is to evoke feelings that bridge the gap between the past and the present, allowing listeners to engage with the music on a deeper level.
*Interviewer*: The concert series will also take place in regions like Visaginas and Vilkaviškis. Why is it important to extend this experience beyond the capital?
*Trevor Pinnock*: Access to classical music should be available to everyone, not just those in urban centers. By performing in regions, we allow more people to experience the beauty and charm of classical music firsthand. It’s about building a community through music and sharing the joy that these timeless works can bring.
*Interviewer*: Looking ahead, what do you hope audiences will take away from the “Endless Pleasure” concert?
*Trevor Pinnock*: My hope is that audiences will leave feeling enriched, inspired, and perhaps even transformed. Handel’s music, for instance, offers such a beautiful blend of charm and energy. It’s an invitation to explore our own emotional landscapes while connecting us to the essence of humanity. I want everyone to feel that music is a living, breathing entity that continues to communicate with us today.
*Interviewer*: Thank you, Trevor. We look forward to the performances in Vilnius and beyond!
*Trevor Pinnock*: Thank you! I can’t wait to share these magical moments with everyone.
