“Dedication to Faustas Latėnas”

On the final Saturday of autumn, we invite you to remember the eminent composer Faustas Latėnas! Among other works, the composer wrote music for more than 200 theater productions, winning the Lithuanian National Prize and other accolades. Five talented musicians dedicate this concert to him: the internationally acclaimed pianist Vytis Šakūras and one of Lithuania’s most prominent chamber music ensembles, the Mettis String Quartet.

Vytis Šakūras is an internationally acclaimed pianist, known for his exceptional artistic presence, musical contrasts, and ability to weave a deeply emotional atmosphere. In his concerts, classical tradition takes on a contemporary hue, and each performance becomes a living story. The pianist’s work reveals a special focus on music’s profound impact on the listener and its power to connect cultures.

Since 2023, the pianist has collaborated with the world-renowned clarinetist Giora Feidman, performing in celebrated halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, and Stuttgart’s Liederhalle. He gives more than 100 concerts annually across Europe and Japan. V. Šakūras’s latest album, “Revolution of Love” (“Warner Chappell Music” / “MACC Records”), has garnered high praise.

The Mettis String Quartet is one of Lithuania’s most prominent chamber music ensembles, celebrated for its precision, musical sensitivity, and modern approach to classical tradition. The quartet’s repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary works, while their performances are defined by a strong emotional resonance and exceptional stage energy.

The quartet was founded in 2012 at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Its members later studied at the ECMA (European Chamber Music Academy), where, guided by the world’s finest pedagogues in the field, they began a rapid ascent in their careers. This is reflected in the Mettis Quartet’s achievements: in 2016, they won second place and the special prize at the 8th International Bordeaux String Quartet Competition in France, and that same year, they earned the title of winners at the 9th International V. E. Rimbotti Quartet Competition in Italy.

The quartet’s name was not chosen by chance. Metis is a figure from ancient Greek mythology, an Oceanid of the Titan generation who symbolized wisdom. In common parlance, the word describes a quality rooted in cleverness, ingenuity, and skill.