“Dedication to Faustas Latėnas”

On the last Saturday of autumn, we invite you to remember the prominent composer Faustas Latėnas! Alongside a rich catalog of other works, the composer wrote music for over 200 theater productions and was honored with the Lithuanian National Prize, among other prestigious awards. This concert is dedicated to him by five talented musicians: the internationally acclaimed pianist Vytis Šakūras and one of Lithuania’s most distinguished chamber music ensembles, the Mettis String Quartet.

Vytis Šakūras is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for his exceptional artistic presence, vivid musical contrasts, and ability to weave a deeply emotional atmosphere. In his concerts, classical tradition acquires a contemporary hue, and every performance unfolds as a living story. Central to the pianist’s art is a profound devotion to music’s impact on the listener and its power to connect diverse cultures.

Since 2023, the pianist has collaborated with world-renowned clarinetist Giora Feidman, gracing stages such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, and Stuttgart’s Liederhalle. He performs over 100 concerts each year across Europe and Japan. His most recent album, “Revolution of Love” (Warner Chappell Music / MACC Records), has been met with high critical acclaim.

The Mettis String Quartet is one of Lithuania’s most prominent chamber music ensembles, celebrated for its precision, musical sensitivity, and modern approach to the classical tradition. The quartet’s repertoire spans from classical to contemporary works, with performances characterized by a powerful emotional charge and extraordinary stage energy.

Founded in 2012 at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, the ensemble later studied at ECMA (European Chamber Music Academy). There, guided by some of the world’s finest pedagogues in the field, they began a rapid ascent in their career. The achievements of Mettis speak volumes—in 2016, they won second place and a special prize at the 8th International String Quartet Competition in Bordeaux, France, and that same year, took first prize 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 everyday language, the word describes a quality rooted in intelligence, ingenuity, and skill.