On June 20, an exclusive chamber music evening awaits listeners at Paliesius Manor, where the depth of romanticism and the boldness of contemporary music will meet.

Appearing on stage will be pianist, Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy professor Donaldas Račys and Israeli violinist Evgenia Epshtein – performers characterized by mature interpretation, a sensitive sense of musical dialogue, and a broad artistic outlook. In the second part of the concert, two prominent figures of the Lithuanian music scene will join: percussionist Arkadijus Gotesmanas and bassist Eugenijus Kanevičius. This concert is for listeners seeking not only beauty, but also meaning, discovery, and a live musical experience.

The first part of the concert will feature two sonatas for violin and piano by Edvard Grieg: Sonata No. 1 op. 8 and Sonata No. 2 op. 13. These works are full of Scandinavian lyricism, inner tension, and emotional dramatism, revealing both the intimate and expressive sides of Grieg’s creativity. This part of the program will be complemented by Boris Papandopulo’s ‘Monologue’ for solo violin, performed by Evgenia Epshtein. It is a concentrated, expressive work that allows the individuality of the violin’s voice and the performer’s artistic maturity to unfold – like an internal dialogue with the listener.

The second part of the concert will be a special event in Lithuanian musical life – listeners will hear a premiere in Lithuania: American composer Eugene Levitas’s work for violin, piano, percussion, and bass guitar ‘Behind and Beyond’. This composition transcends conventional genre boundaries, combining classical tradition with the pulsation of contemporary music, vibrant rhythms, and unexpected timbral colors. To perform the piece, Arkadijus Gotesmanas and Eugenijus Kanevičius will join Donaldas Račys and Evgenia Epshtein. Their joint musical dialogue promises a compelling, lively, and surprise-filled experience.

New generation composer Eugene Levitas – is a critically acclaimed composer and an IMA (Independent Music Awards) laureate. He is well-versed in various languages of classical, contemporary, jazz, electronic, and even pop and rock music. Levitas’s compositions and arrangements are heard in concert halls, on CD recordings, in theaters, and on television, performed by renowned orchestras and artists. ‘Levitas possesses not only charm… but also knowledge and rhythmic, melodic talent to create modern, bold, and beautiful music,’ stated Ruth Gutman Ben-Zvi in the newspaper ‘HaTzofe’.

Evgenia Epshtein – an internationally acclaimed violinist living in Split, Croatia. Evgenia is one of the founders of the Aviv Quartet, captivating audiences worldwide with her extraordinary artistry and expressiveness.

E. Epshtein began her musical journey at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv, studying with renowned teachers such as Arthur Ziserman, Yair Kless, and Irina Svetlova. She later honed her chamber music skills at prestigious institutions, including the ‘Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln’ and the ‘Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse’ in Paris. The performer won the Grand Prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and numerous second prizes at renowned competitions such as the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and the Prague Spring International Music Competition.

As a soloist, E. Epshtein has performed with renowned orchestras worldwide. In recent years, she has appeared with the Baku Chamber Orchestra in Azerbaijan and the Mexican Chamber Orchestra, and as a soloist, she has performed with the Bohemian Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in the UK, and the Zadar Chamber Orchestra in Croatia.

E. Epshtein is a dedicated educator, working as a professor of violin and chamber music at the Split Academy of Music. She frequently gives masterclasses at festivals and conservatories worldwide. She is regularly invited to prestigious music festivals: Lunigiana, Gotland, Ameropa. In 2023, she participated in the innovative X-TET project at Vienna’s famous ‘Musikverein’ hall.

Donaldas Račys – a pianist, professor at Vytautas Magnus University Music Academy, actively performing as a soloist and chamber music artist.

The pianist has given concerts in Germany, Italy, the United States, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland, and China. D. Račys is regularly invited to give lectures and masterclasses abroad – in the USA (Chicago), Czech Republic (Prague), Poland (Częstochowa), as well as in various Italian conservatories – Genoa, Frosinone, Pesaro, Rovigo, Verona, and Milan.

D. Račys has participated in international music festivals, including ‘Yamaha Piano Week’ in Beijing and ‘Olympus Musicus’ in Prague. He is also a jury member of national and international music competitions, actively contributing to the education of young performers and the activities of the professional community.

The pianist dedicates a significant part of his professional activity to pedagogical work – many of his students are laureates of national and international competitions, successfully continuing their concert and pedagogical careers in Lithuania and abroad.

LMTA Associate Professor Arkadijus Gotesmanas – an alchemist of sounds combining jazz, academic music, and improvisation, an inventive percussionist whose musical language is characterized by a wide spectrum of articulation. His mastery is revealed in free jazz, improvisational music, academic music improvisations, theater performances, and contemporary dance projects.

According to the Lithuanian Music Information Centre: ‘On stage, alongside a standard drum kit, one will always see the strangest sets of cymbals and numerous additional percussion instruments. Rattles, bells, bowls, bongos, buffalo-type drums, even a plastic bag – everything can become part of A. Gotesman’s music. A rich instrument repertoire, vivid imagination, and unique improvisational style turn each of his performances into an unparalleled sonic journey.’

The percussionist plays not only jazz but also the latest academic music, having presented world premieres of works by Osvaldas Balakauskas, Anatolijus Šenderovas, Zita Bružaitė, Šarūnas Nakas, and other composers. He is also the organizer of the Klezmer Music Festival and the ‘Jewish art festival in Lithuania’, the artistic director of the ‘Utena Percussion and Jazz Festival’, and the founder of the ‘Theatrum solius quadri’ theater.

Eugenijus Kanevičius – a jazz musician, double bassist, and composer for the Catholic Television Studio. From 1984–1991, he was a musician for the Vilnius Orchestras and Pop Ensembles Association, from 1991–1993 – a lecturer at the Lithuanian State Conservatory, and since 1996 – a composer for the Catholic Television Studio.

He is one of Lithuania’s most versatile jazz bassists, masterfully performing music of a wide stylistic amplitude. An inventive musician, equally proficient with both acoustic and electric bass, further enriching his timbral palette with electronic accessories, guitar, trumpet, percussion instruments, and voice. Over 20 years on the jazz scene, Eugenijus Kanevičius has played with almost all Lithuanian jazz creators and also performs with jazz musicians from other countries. The bassist also plays solo, composes hymns, music for children, theater, and cinema, and has created songs, hymns, and instrumental pieces, music for films and theater.

E. Kanevičius performs with many prominent Lithuanian jazz creators, jazz musicians from other countries, and plays in various Estonian ensembles. He composes music for plays (‘Baron in the Trees’, ‘The Nightingale’, ‘Lord of the Flies’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘The Happy Prince’ (all staged at the Alytus Drama Theater) and films (‘Sunset in Lithuania’, ‘Skaruliai’, ‘True Stories’, ‘The Challenge’). He has created over 30 instrumental pieces. He has released compact discs ‘Sketches’ (1994), ‘Meditation’ (1996), ‘Concerto Grosso’ (2005).