Alexander Paley Presents: A Two-Day Music Marathon at Paliesius Manor

World-class virtuoso Alexander Paley presents a two-day music marathon to the audiences of Paliesius Manor, bringing together 15 exceptionally talented performers from Lithuania and abroad. A. Paley jests that this idea was born not from a whim to prove he could play the piano for hours on end, but rather from a profound desire to gather performers and listeners alike to simply revel in an abundance of music. Let the music flow freely amidst wild nature, here at Paliesius Manor…

The fiery piano virtuoso Aleksandras Paley leaves no one indifferent with his talent and charisma. Audiences give him standing ovations, and critics spare no praise. His dream of playing the piano was born in early childhood, when the young pianist eagerly awaited the chance to lay his hands upon the keys of a “Belarus” piano for the very first time.

Honored with a multitude of world-class awards, the pianist has held performances and is always warmly welcomed at the most prestigious concert halls and festivals. His list of appearances boasts “Radio France,” “Theatre des Champs-Elysees,” “Salle Pleyel,” “Salle Gaveau” (Paris), “Grands Interprètes” (Lyon), the Lille Piano Festival, the Besançon Opera Theatre, “Leipzig Gewandhaus,” “Concertgebouw” (Amsterdam), “Laeiszhalle” (Hamburg), concert halls in China, and elsewhere.

As the years pass, A. Paley’s star never fades—living between New York and Paris, the pianist performs around 80 concerts worldwide each year.

Pei-Wen Chen made her debut at the prestigious “Carnegie Hall” in New York immediately after completing her piano studies. She is a laureate of international piano competitions and a participant in world-class projects. The pianist performs regularly in both Europe and other continents, and remains actively involved in academic life.

Viktoras Paukštelis is often called an artist of a truly unique nature, presenting audiences with a fusion of his two talents: painting and playing the piano. For this artist, music and fine art are two intertwining and complementary elements: the unpolished impulsiveness of his painting lends experimental daring to the stage, while his visual work with color to create form translates into a kind of hearing, transferred directly onto the plane of pianism. On the classical stage, such a synthesis of two art forms has no parallel.

Following a highly successful performance at New York’s “Carnegie Hall,” “The New York Concert Review” noted Viktoras’s “first-rate” sense of rhythm, calling his musicianship sincere, solid, and electrifying. In his program, alongside well-known classical pieces, the pianist performs less frequently played works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Domenico Scarlatti, Anatoly Lyadov, Alexander Scriabin, and César Franck, as well as compositions by his brother, composer Vytautas Paukštelis.

Currently, the performer and artist concerts in Lithuania, the USA, France, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries, and participates in Lithuanian and international festivals.

Bassoonist Andrius Puplauskis is a laureate of national and international competitions. He performs as a soloist with orchestras, holds solo recitals, and plays with various chamber ensembles in Lithuania and abroad. Puplauskis’s repertoire is exceptionally broad: he can be heard playing Baroque, classical, contemporary, pop, jazz, and electronic music, or even improvising his original compositions on an electric bassoon. In 2009, he released the first solo bassoon music CD in Lithuania, “FAGOTAS LIETUVIŠKAI”, which gathers the finest examples of Lithuanian bassoon music. A. Puplauskis is the concertmaster of the bassoon section of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, a member of the St. Christopher Wind Quintet, a member of the ARS MUSICA ensemble, and an associate professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Karolis Kolakauskas, born and raised at the E. Balsys Gymnasium of Arts in Klaipėda, studied the clarinet in the class of Petras Mateika. He began his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent and continued at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, where he won first prize in a chamber music ensemble competition, and today he continues to learn from his colleagues and from life itself. For 10 years, he worked with the LVSO and gladly performed with other collectives in Lithuania and abroad.

World-renowned violinist Amiram Ganz began his career at just 11 years old. The performer is a laureate of international competitions, a member of the highly successful Altenberg Trio Wien, and is always warmly welcomed on major stages. A. Ganz plays a violin crafted in Italy by Goffredo Cappa in 1690.

Aurimas Jankevičius began playing the trumpet at the Vievis School of Art (under teacher A. Selickas). In 2001, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the LMTA, followed by a master’s degree and the professional qualification of a trumpet performer in 2003 (in the class of M. Kumpis). In 2016, he acquired his professional qualification in pedagogy. As a guest trumpeter, he has performed with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic’s chamber ensemble “Musica Humana”, and the ensemble of the contemporary music festival “Gaida”. While performing in orchestras, he has played under the batons of M. Rostropovich, K. Penderecki, J. Aleksa, S. Sondeckis, J. Domarkas, and G. Rinkevičius.

Egidijus Stanelis studied at the E. Balsys Gymnasium of Arts in Klaipėda. In 1994, he graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. From 1998 to 2002, he continued his studies in Norway at the Tromsø Music Conservatory, earning his master’s degree under one of the most distinguished pedagogues, Professor Frøydis Ree Wekre, at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. During his studies, he actively participated in concert activities. He played in the Oslo Philharmonic, the Tromsø Symphony Orchestra, and the Norwegian Radio and Television Orchestras. He won an international competition and participated in the P. Boulez contemporary music festival (Provence, France). In 1994, he became a laureate of the national J. Pakalnis Competition for Young Wind Instrument Performers.

Currently, the artist continues his creative endeavors in Lithuania. He is a member of numerous ensembles and collectives. From 2002 to 2019, he was a member of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, and since 2019 he has been playing with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. He frequently performs with various chamber ensembles and prepares diverse solo programs. He is regularly invited to perform with the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra and the Fjord Cadenza Philharmonic symphony orchestra.

Ieva Prudnikovaitė completed her master’s studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2008, in the singing class of Prof. R. Maciūtė. She is a laureate of the International Singers’ Competition in Cologne (Germany) and several national singers’ competitions.

She has sung with the Lithuanian National Symphony, Lithuanian State Symphony, Budapest Symphony, WDR (Cologne) Symphony, Essen Philharmonic, Bochum Symphony, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, and Lithuanian Chamber Orchestras. Conductors she has collaborated with include S. Sondeckis, G. Rinkevičius, J. Domarkas, M. Pitrėnas, R. Šervenikas, S. Krylov, S. Soltesz, S. Sloane, A. Joel, G. Garcia Calvo, R. Gergov, J. Caballe-Domenech, O. Meir Wellber, M. Halls, G. Carella, T. Netopil, M. Beltrami, O. Tausk, and others.

I. Prudnikovaitė’s most recent roles include Isoletta (V. Bellini’s “La Straniera”), Polinesso (H. F. Händel’s “Ariodante”), Ms. Quickly (G. Verdi’s “Falstaff”), and Ulrica (G. Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera”) at the Aalto Theatre in Essen; Olga (P. Tchaikovsky’s “Eugenijus Oneginas”), Kashcheyevna (N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Kaščejus nemirtingasis”), and Ottavia (C. Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea”) at the Theater St. Gallen (Switzerland); Siebel (C. Gounod’s “Faust”) at Vilnius City Opera; and Blanche (S. Prokofiev’s “Lošėjas”) at the LNOBT.

Oboist Linas Šalna (b. 1970) graduated from the Vilnius J. Tallat-Kelpša Conservatory (class of V. Lubauskas) and earned his master’s degree at the LMTA in 1995 (under Prof. R. Staškus). In 1992, he completed an internship in Salzburg at the Mozarteum University under Prof. L. Koch. Since 1994, he has been the concertmaster of the oboe section in the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, and he teaches at the M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art and the J. Tallat-Kelpša Conservatory. As an orchestral artist and soloist, he has performed in over 30 countries with the LVSO, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian and St. Christopher Chamber Orchestras, Kremerata Baltica, the “Gaida” ensemble, the wind quintet, and other collectives. L. Šalna is also an active musician in various chamber music concerts and festivals, while the students of his class are winners and laureates of international and national competitions and oboe championships, today playing solo or working in prominent art collectives throughout the country.

Mindaugas Bačkus is a cellist who performs as a soloist, as well as a member of various ensembles and orchestras. The horizons of his musical interests are extraordinarily broad: from Baroque to contemporary opuses, from traditional cello sounds to electroacoustic experiments and participation in theatrical projects.

Bačkus graduated from the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art and later from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he earned a Licentiate of Arts degree. He also studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (Great Britain) and honed his skills in masterclasses in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

The cellist has played with the chamber orchestra “Kremerata Baltica”, the Lithuanian and Vilnius Chamber Orchestras, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, the string quartet “Chordos”, and has been a member of the “Nepaklusniųjų ansamblis” (Ensemble of the Disobedient) since 2006. With these collectives, he has participated in festivals in Lithuania, the USA, Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Norway.

Violinist Raimondas Butvila left for Venezuela in 1993 under a creative cooperation agreement between Lithuania and this South American country. In Caracas, he served as the Musical Director of the Emil Friedman College and a professor at the Experimental University of the Arts (UNEARTE); over 18 years, he prepared several generations of professional musicians. As a soloist, he frequently played with Venezuelan orchestras, performing the core repertoire of violin concertos. He played a great deal of chamber music and was a member of the Trio Academico Emil Friedman.

He returned to Lithuania in 2011, and is now the head of the String Instruments Department and a professor at the Music Academy of Vytautas Magnus University.

Since 2013, he has engaged in a highly active artistic collaboration with his former classmate in Moscow, the world-renowned piano virtuoso Alexander Paley. They have held philharmonic recitals in Lithuania and a concert with the VMU Chamber Orchestra, during which J. Haydn’s and F. Mendelssohn’s concertos for violin and keyboard were performed. Since 2016, R. Butvila has participated in the annual festival organized by A. Paley in Moulin d’Andé, France.

Ugnius Dičiūnas graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2016 (Prof. Dr. R. Beinaris and lecturer E. Paškevičius). In 2015–2016, he completed an internship in Prague in the class of Prof. Jana Brožková and Liběna Séquardtová. He has participated in masterclasses with numerous renowned performers, such as Omar Zoboli, Jan Thuri, Diethelm Jonas, Kalev Kuljus, and others. He is a laureate of various international and national competitions.

Since 2014, he has been a member of the oboe section of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and the St. Christopher Woodwind Quintet.

Violinist Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė is a laureate and diplomante of many international and national competitions, such as the International S. Sondeckis String Instrument Competition, National B. Dvarionas String Instrument Competition, National “Gradus ad Parnassum” Competition, International “Olimpo Musicale” Competition, International “Ars Lituanica” Competition, and numerous others.

As a soloist, she has performed with the chamber orchestra led by maestro S. Sondeckis (at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic), the Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art (dir. M. Staškus), and the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra (conducted by D. Katkus) in concert halls in Lithuania and abroad. Since 2015, Ulijona has played in the “Kremerata Baltica” chamber orchestra, artistically directed by Gidon Kremer. In the same year, she became a member of the chamber ensemble “Mikroorkėstra”, led by M. Levickis. Ulijona also performs extensively with her chamber ensembles: the piano trio “Unico”, consisting of violin, bassoon, and piano. Together with pianist G. Maknavičiūtė-Janavičienė, she has prepared numerous concert programs.

DETAILED CONCERT PROGRAM:

Day I (August 21)

10:00 | Morning Concert

W. A. Mozart – Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, K.452
Performed by: Linas Šalna, Karolis Kolakauskas, Andrius Puplauskis, Egidijus Stanelis, Alexander Paley

S. Taneyev – Quintet for Piano and Strings in G minor, op.30
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė, Kristina Anusevičiūtė, Mindaugas Bačkus, Alexander Paley

12:00 | Afternoon Concert I

L. van Beethoven – Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano (Transcription for piano trio by C. Reinecke)
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Mindaugas Bačkus, Alexander Paley,

L. van Beethoven – Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major, op.16
Performed by: Linas Šalna, Karolis Kolakauskas, Andrius Puplauskis, Egidijus Stanelis, Alexander Paley

14:00 | Afternoon Concert II

P. I. Tchaikovsky – Four Pieces for Violin and Piano: “Melodie,” “Scherzo,” “Meditation,” “Valse-Scherzo”
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

S. Rachmaninoff – Russian Rhapsody for Two Pianos (1891)
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

P. I. Tchaikovsky – “Sérénade mélancolique” for Violin and Piano
Performed by: Raimondas Butvila, Alexander Paley

16:00 | Afternoon Concert III

B. Martinů – Ronda – Les Rondes
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė, Ugnius Dičiūnas, Karolis Kolakauskas, Andrius Puplauskis, Aurimas Jankevičius, Alexander Paley

R. Biveinis – Reminiscences (World Premiere)
Performed by: Raimondas Butvila, Alexander Paley

G. Enescu – Suite for Piano Four Hands (1898)
1. Prelude (en forme de canon)
2. Valse triste
3. Intermezzo
4. Courte barcarolle
5. Marche
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

G. Enescu – “Concertstück” for Viola and Piano
Performed by: Kristina Anusevičiūtė, Alexander Paley

B. Martinů – “Three Czech Dances” for Two Pianos
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

B. Martinů – Quartet for Violin, Oboe, Cello, and Piano
Performed by: Ugnius Dičiūnas, Amiram Ganz, Mindaugas Bačkus, Alexander Paley

19:00 | Evening Concert

A. Dvořák – 10 Biblical Songs
Performed by: Ieva Prudnikovaitė, Alexander Paley

N. Medtner – Quintet for Piano and Strings in C major
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė, Kristina Anusevičiūtė, Mindaugas Bačkus, Alexander Paley

Day II (August 22)

11:00 | Morning Concert

W. A. Mozart – Kegelstatt Trio in E-flat major, K. 498 – for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

J. Brahms – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 in F minor, op. 120
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Alexander Paley

J. Brahms – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 in F minor, op. 120 (Composer’s version for violin and piano)
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

J. Brahms – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in E-flat major, op. 120
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Alexander Paley

J. Brahms – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in E-flat major, op. 120 (Composer’s version for violin and piano)
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

13:30 | Afternoon Concert

C. Saint-Saëns – Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso for Violin and Piano
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

C. Saint-Saëns – Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso (Transcription for two pianos by C. Debussy)
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

C. Debussy – Sonata for Violin and Piano
Performed by: Raimondas Butvila, Alexander Paley

Giuseppe Martucci – Fantasy on Themes from G. Verdi’s Opera “Un ballo in maschera” op. 8 for Piano Four Hands
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

M. Ravel – “Tzigane”
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

P. de Sarasate – “Malagueña” and “Habanera”
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

P. de Sarasate – Fantasy on Themes from G. Bizet’s Opera “Carmen” for Violin and Piano
Performed by: Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

P. de Sarasate – “Navarra” for Two Violins and Piano
Performed by: Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė, Amiram Ganz, Alexander Paley

18:00 | Final Concert

Vasile Zagorsky – Suite for Oboe and Piano (Lithuanian Premiere)
Performed by: Ugnius Dičiūnas, Alexander Paley

Vasile Zagorsky – Sonata-Fantasy for Clarinet and Piano (Lithuanian Premiere)
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Alexander Paley

M. Glinka – Galop on a Theme from G. Donizetti’s Opera “L’elisir d’amore” for Piano Four Hands.
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley

S. Rachmaninoff – Two Pieces for Piano Six Hands
1. Valse
2. Romance
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Viktoras Paukštelis, Alexander Paley

S. Prokofiev – Overture on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet, String Quartet, and Piano
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Amiram Ganz, Ulijona Pugačiukaitė-Mažeikienė, Kristina Anusevičiūtė, Mindaugas Bačkus, Alexander Paley

Alexander Tsfasman – Intermezzo for Clarinet and Piano
Performed by: Karolis Kolakauskas, Alexander Paley

Alexander Tsfasman – Jazz Suite for Two Pianos
1. Snowflakes
2. Waltz
3. Polka
4. Fast Movement
Performed by: Pei-Wen Chen, Alexander Paley