Though November is among the darkest of months, the Pasaga concert hall at Paliesius Manor will be remarkably bright, hosting no fewer than six concerts. We begin the month symbolically with a journey among the stars, as the Belgian piano duo Duo b!z’art presents their program Across the Stars, alongside Pragiedruliai, a concert of Romantic works performed by five gifted musicians. The third weekend of November welcomes the nocturnes of Gabriel Fauré, interpreted by Jurgis Karnavičius. The fourth weekend brings another pair of performances: Saturday invites young talents to Paliesius—pianist Elzė Fedorcovaitė and violinist Rokas Diržys—while Sunday features the US-based pianist Andrius Žlabys and the Haven String Quartet. We close the month and welcome the arrival of Advent with Gėlių muzika (Music of Flowers), a gift from the Šiauliai State Chamber Choir Polifonija and actress and reciter Nomeda Bėčiūtė.
Source: 7MD.LT
November 8, 4:00 PM | Duo b!z’art: “Across the Stars” (Piano Duo, Belgium)
Paliesius Manor welcomes the Belgian piano duo Duo b!z’art—Geoffrey Baptiste and André Roe. These are two compelling artistic personalities, driven by an unceasing pursuit of harmony and precision. Playing both one and two pianos, the duo sounds as a single musician with twenty fingers. Embarking on numerous tours across Europe and China each year, they are renowned for their powerful and highly original concert themes.
At Paliesius Manor, the duo will perform Across the Stars—a musical journey through the cosmos. The program features E. MacDowell’s poetic Moon Pictures, G. Holst’s famed The Planets, and the dramatic Titan symphony by G. Mahler, alongside a newly arranged soundtrack from Star Wars. The evening culminates in a musical firework suspended between classical and jazz boundaries: N. Kapustin’s breathtaking Sinfonietta, Op. 49.
November 9, 2:00 PM | “Pragiedruliai”
The Pasaga concert hall at Paliesius Manor will host Pragiedruliai (Clearings). Five gifted musicians will take the stage: Japanese violinist Yuriko Takemoto, Belgian violinist and violist Jozefien Dumortier, German cellist Sarah Hahn, double bassist Tadas Čeliauskas, and pianist Jonas Šopa. Together, they believe that amid today’s events, music can offer an oasis of peace, goodness, love, and light—like clearings breaking through on a heavily overcast day. The concert features works from the Romantic era, blending Rossini’s spirited melodies with Schubert’s timeless lyricism. It is a rare opportunity to hear every member of the string family at once: violin, viola, cello, and—quite unusually for chamber ensembles—the double bass.
November 15, 4:00 PM | Gabriel Fauré. Nocturnes
Pianist Jurgis Karnavičius will perform the complete nocturnes of the French Romantic composer Gabriel Fauré at Paliesius Manor—marking the first time such a concert has been held in Lithuania. This is a newly crafted program from Karnavičius, who from 2022 to 2024 treated Paliesius Manor audiences to Philip Glass’s grandiose cycle of 20 piano etudes.
Though rarely heard in concert halls, Gabriel Fauré’s 13 nocturnes remain among the finest examples of the genre in global piano literature. Carrying forward the tradition established by J. Field and F. Chopin, Fauré imbued his nocturnes with the most delicate poetry, passionate and intimate lyricism, and a remarkably refined style. Composed over several decades, these pieces radiate a singular beauty entirely their own, serving as a testament to the composer’s extraordinary stylistic evolution—from gentle Romanticism to the modern aesthetics of the early 20th century.
November 22, 4:00 PM | Young Talents at Paliesius: Elzė Fedorcovaitė (Piano), Rokas Diržys (Violin)
Paliesius Manor welcomes young talents to the stage—pianist Elzė Fedorcovaitė and violinist Rokas Diržys. Elzė Fedorcovaitė is a laureate of more than 30 international competitions, having graced numerous European concert halls alongside the Lviv, St. Christopher, and LMTA Chamber Orchestras, as well as the M. K. Čiurlionis Symphony Orchestra. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under professors Fali Pavri and Petras Geniušas. Rokas Diržys, a student at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art, is a scholar of the M. Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation “Help for Lithuanian Children.” He has earned numerous accolades in national and international competitions, including a Laureate Diploma at the National B. Dvarionas Competition for Young Pianists and String Players (2020, 2022, 2024), and the Grand Prix at the 3rd and 4th National A. Livont Competition for Young String Players (2021, 2024).
November 23, 4:00 PM | Andrius Žlabys and Haven String Quartet
The acclaimed pianist Andrius Žlabys will take the stage alongside the Haven String Quartet. This dynamic ensemble features violinists Yaira Matyakubova and Patrick Doane, violist Linda Numagami, and cellist Philip Boulanger—all dedicated teachers and performers who weave their passion for education and equality into their artistic excellence. Andrius Žlabys is a Grammy-nominated pianist who has earned international acclaim for his performances with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston, Cleveland, and Rotterdam Symphony Orchestras, and the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. In the US press, the pianist has been praised as “one of the most talented rising young pianists in recent years” and “a shining hope of the piano.”
November 29, 4:00 PM | “Gėlių muzika”
A cozy and deeply spiritual evening awaits at Paliesius Manor, blending music and literature, the wintery calm of nature, and festive anticipation—a perfect beginning to Advent. Gėlių muzika (Music of Flowers) is a holiday invitation to reflect upon the approaching Christmas season, its light, and its tranquility—a musical bouquet for the heart and soul. The performance will feature works inspired by flowers, each a unique story in itself. Led by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Linas Balandis, the award-winning Šiauliai State Chamber Choir Polifonija, carrying a legacy of over fifty years, will capture the nuances of every piece with sensitivity and precision. Meanwhile, poetry read by Nomeda Bėčiūtė, an actress of the State Šiauliai Drama Theater, will weave a very special connection between music and literature.