Kremerata Baltica Festival at Paliesius Manor

The festival is dedicated to commemorating the 90th anniversary of Alfred Schnittke (b. 1934) and the 115th anniversary of Grażyna Bacewicz (b. 1909).

For the first time in history, Paliesius Manor is hosting a festival by Maestro Gidon Kremer and the chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica! On August 10–11, two virtuosic concerts await you, during which the most talented performers will masterfully reveal the beauty of works by both Lithuanian and international composers.

Joining one of the most renowned violinists of our time, Gidon Kremer, the Grammy Award-winning orchestra Kremerata Baltica, and the Kremerata Lettonica ensemble, will be five celebrated guest soloists. Taking to the piano will be Yulianna Avdeeva, first prize winner of the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, Andrejs Osokins, who has won first prizes at the Arthur Rubinstein, Leeds, and other major competitions, and one of Lithuania’s most fascinating pianists, the Grammy-nominated Andrius Žlabys. Also taking the stage will be violinist Madara Pētersone, winner of multiple national and international competitions, and violist Emma Wernig, known for her authentic musical voice and active festival presence. We invite you not to miss this star-studded concert!

Gidon Kremer was born on February 27, 1947, in Riga, Latvia. At the age of four, he began studying with his father and grandfather, both distinguished string players. At seven, he entered the Riga Music School, where he progressed rapidly, and by sixteen he had been awarded the First Prize of the Latvian Republic. Two years later, he began his studies at the Moscow Conservatory under David Oistrakh. G. Kremer has won numerous prestigious awards, including prizes at the 1967 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and the 1969 Montreal International Music Competition, as well as first prizes at the 1969 Paganini and 1970 Tchaikovsky International Competitions.

Over the past five decades, he has earned a worldwide reputation as one of the most original and compelling performers of his generation. He has appeared in nearly every major concert hall as a recitalist and with the most renowned orchestras of Europe and North America, collaborating with many of the most celebrated conductors of the last half-century.

The violinist’s repertoire is unusually broad and varied, encompassing the Classical and Romantic periods. He is equally well-versed in the works of 20th- and 21st-century composers, such as A. Berg, H. W. Henze, and K. Stockhausen. G. Kremer’s name is also closely associated with such world-renowned composers as Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, Giya Kanchel, Sofija Gubaidulina, Valentin Silvestrov, Luigi Nonu, Edison Denisov, Aribert Reimann, Pēteris Vasks, John Adams, Victor Kissine, Michael Nyman, Philip Glass, Leonid Desyatnikov, and Astor Piazzolla. When interpreting their works, the violinist deeply respects musical traditions and roots, while masterfully bringing forth their freshness and modernity. It is safe to say that today, there is no other soloist of such a high caliber who so widely champions the violin works of modern and contemporary composers.

G. Kremer is an exceptionally prolific recording artist, having released more than 120 albums. Many of these albums have been heavily awarded: notable accolades include the Grand prix du Disque, Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, Ernst von Siemens Musikpreis, Bundesverdienstkreuz, Premio dell ‘Accademia Musicale Chigiana, the Triumph Prize in 2000 (Moscow), the Unesco Prize in 2001, the Saeculum Glashütte Original MusikFestspielPreis in 2007 (Dresden), the Rolf Schock Prize in 2008 (Stockholm), the Istanbul Music Festival Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, and the Una Vita Nella Musica – Artur Rubinstein Prize in 2011 (Venice). In 2016, Gidon Kremer was awarded the Praemium Imperiale, widely considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the music world.

Founded in 1997 by the renowned G. Kremer, the Grammy Award-winning chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica is considered one of the most prominent international ensembles in Europe.

For this orchestra, the Maestro deliberately selected young, enthusiastic musicians. The essential characteristic of Kremerata Baltica as an artistic entity is its creative approach to programming, which rarely limits itself to mainstream trends and has featured world premieres of works by composers such as Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Pēteris Vasks, Leonid Desyatnikov, and Alexander Raskatov. Kremerata Baltica serves as a medium for the famed violinist—who is not only the founder but also the artistic director of the orchestra—to share his artistic experience with a new generation. Together, the orchestra also fosters and inspires the musical and cultural life of the Baltic states.

Kremerata Baltica has performed in more than 50 countries, giving over 1,000 concerts in 600 cities. The breadth of the ensemble’s repertoire is reflected in its award-winning discography. Their album of works by Mieczysław Weinberg, released by ECM, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015, and their recording of Shostakovich’s piano concertos with Anna Vinnickaja won an ECHO Klassik award in 2016. A recording of Weinberg’s Symphonies No. 2 and No. 21, performed alongside the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, won a Gramophone Award in 2020.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, the orchestra was unable to meet, rehearse, give concerts, and travel the world as usual. Yet, its members, spread across different countries, never lost their desire to make music and bring joy to their audiences. The Lithuania-based members of Kremerata Baltica began preparing programs and performing within Lithuania, while those living in Latvia started giving concerts in Latvia and Estonia. Thus, Kremerata Lithuanica and Kremerata Lettonica were born.

Yulianna Avdeeva gained worldwide recognition at the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition, where she won first prize for a detailed and precise performance that “matches Chopin’s own playing” (The Telegraph). A pianist of fiery temperament and virtuosity, J. Avdeeva plays with power, conviction, and sensitivity, captivating audiences around the globe. She performs regularly at the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Rudolfinum in Prague, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. She also organizes Ukrainian Relief concerts, including a joint performance with Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Lucerne Chamber Music Festival.

Andrejs Osokins, a Latvian classical pianist, is a laureate of the world’s most prominent piano competitions. Described by critics as impeccably stylish, he is praised for his powerful intellect and charisma, a broad palette of expressive sounds, and his remarkably compelling performances of diverse repertoire. A. Osokins is the founder and artistic director of the annual Osokins Freedom Festival in Latvia, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in London, and a Fellow of Trinity College of Music (FTCM) in London. In 2008, he was awarded the Great Music Award, the highest form of state recognition in the field of music in Latvia. In 2023, Andrejs Osokins received Latvia’s highest state honor: the Order of the Three Stars, awarded for his charitable activities and concert organization.

Andrius Žlabys is known to many as an exceptional artist, characterized by his unique philosophy of sound and truly magnificent interpretations of classical and contemporary piano works. He is one of the most distinguished Lithuanian pianists of our time, having earned international acclaim and a prestigious Grammy Award nomination. He is celebrated worldwide for his “effortless” virtuosity, a generous and all-encompassing resonance, spellbinding interpretations, and a profound richness of musical perception. The pianist left for the United States to study piano and was soon noticed there as a “shining hope of the piano” (The New York Sun). He has since performed with numerous renowned symphony orchestras globally, including the New York Philharmonic, and the Boston, Cleveland, Rotterdam, and Buenos Aires orchestras, among others.

Violinist Madara Pētersone is a laureate of multiple Latvian and international competitions. In 2011, she won 1st place at the 19th “Best Student Ensemble” competition at the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music. She has had the honor of performing solo with pianist Reinis Zarins and the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra (conducted by A. Veismanis), as well as playing solo in the Euroradio concert on the European Day of Young Musicians, the Berlin International Literature Festival, and more. M. Pētersone also participated in the 2013 season with the Danish String Quartet, and during the 2014 season, she performed M. Weinberg’s Sonata for Two Violins alongside Gidon Kremer.

Born in 1999, German-Austrian violist Emma Wernig is celebrated for her authentic musical voice. Early competitive successes—such as the Barbirolli Prize at the 2019 Tertis International Viola Competition and winning the 2017 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition—launched her international career. In addition to releasing an acclaimed album of rare Austrian viola works with pianist Albert Cano-Smit, she curates solo programs, often arranging cello, violin, and vocal repertoire herself. As a 2021 Wilo Foundation laureate, she remains a scholarship holder, and during the 2023–2024 season, she will serve as a soloist for the Mozart Gesellschaft Dortmund. In 2024, E. Werning will also take on the position of Principal Viola in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.