The Holidays at Paliesius Manor Welcomed with an Inspiring Concert, “Love and Dances,” by Gidon Kremer, Julius Asal, and Kremerata Lettonica
On December 22, just before the grandest holidays of the year, a wonderful gathering of musicians graced the Pasaga concert hall at Paliesius Manor—legendary violinist Gidon Kremer, the Kremerata Lettonica ensemble, and German pianist Julius Asal. The concert, “Love and Dances,” undoubtedly filled the audience with warmth and a festive spirit.
Gidon Kremer, one of the most original and compelling artists of his generation, is no stranger to the manor, yet he never fails to captivate his listeners anew. The Kremerata Lettonica ensemble, composed of Kremerata Baltica members from Latvia, has recently been garnering ever more acclaim. This time, the ensemble took the stage as a quintet, featuring violinists Madara Petersone and Zane Kalnina, violist Jevgenija Frolova, cellist Magdalena Ceple, and double bassist Iurii Gavryliuk. Meanwhile, guest pianist Julius Asal—lauded for his “extraordinarily beautiful sound and special resonance” and firmly established as one of the most promising performers of his generation—performed in Lithuania for the very first time! For Paliesius, this is a profound honor.
The program focused primarily on the music of three great composers. We were treated to the works of Astor Piazzolla, the world-renowned Argentine tango master, composer, arranger, and bandoneon virtuoso—G. Kremer succeeds beautifully in revealing the emotional tension of the composer’s music. Together with the musicians of Kremerata Lettonica, passionate, romantic, strict, and melancholic interpretations of his works are thus born. The second composer featured was Joseph Lanner, creator of profoundly delicate Viennese waltzes and ländlers. G. Kremer is celebrated for the refined, nuanced resonance of his violin, and when he plays, it seems to happen almost effortlessly—a lightness and fluidity perfectly suited to this composer’s music. The third composer, Dmitrij Šostakovič, was explored this time not through his classical legacy, but through his film scores, which were once again brilliantly revealed by the performers. The repertoire also embraced masterfully performed works by Western European composers such as Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, alongside Eastern European figures Sergej Prokofjev and Alfred Schnittke.
Awash in a Christmas spirit, the miracle of music, and the shared joy of those gathered, the historic stone walls of Paliesius seemed almost to come alive. All that remains is to thank the audience and the performers for weaving such wonderful magic!
Photos by Algis Jakštas.
