The program “Song of Memory” is based on the writings of Grigorijus Kanovičius, a writer, humanist, and recipient of the Lithuanian National Culture and Arts Prize. In his work, Vilnius emerges not only as a city, but also as a space of memory, lost voices, the coexistence of cultures, and human dignity.

Based on Kanovičius’s essay “A Dream of the Lost Jerusalem,” the program weaves a poignant narrative of literature and music about a city where different nations, languages, destinies, and faiths have converged. Here, words and sound complement one another: the recited texts become the inner voice of Vilnius, while the music reveals what lies beyond words—longing, silence, light, and the fragility of memory.

The program will feature music by M. K. Čiurlionis, César Cui, Duettissimo, Maurice Ravel, and Anatolijus Šenderovas. Works from different eras and styles are woven together not as separate pieces, but as parts of a cohesive narrative that accompanies the world of Kanovičius’s texts—from lyrical contemplation to the painful memory of history and hope.

This chamber music evening will be presented by actor Giedrius Arbačiauskas, violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė, and cellist Gleb Pyšniak. They invite you to listen to the memory of Vilnius—personal and collective, fragile and alive.

TEXT: Grigorijus Kanovičius

MUSIC: M. K. Čiurlionis, C. Cui, Duettissimo, M. Ravel, A. Šenderovas

Performers

Giedrius Arbačiauskas (narrator)

An actor, bard, reciter, event host, and performer of sung poetry, whose work brings together theater, music, and the spoken word. Born in Trakai, he studied acting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, and later performed roles at the Vaidila Theater, the State Youth Theater, and the Kaunas State Musical Theater. Throughout his career, G. Arbačiauskas has portrayed more than 30 roles on stage, in film, and on television. His talent has been recognized with the Golden Stage Cross, the Silver Crane, and the Laimonas Noreika Prize for Best Actor-Reader. On stage, he stands out for his sincerity, subtle artistic sensibility, and ability to establish a lively connection with the audience.

Dalia Dėdinskaitė (violin)

One of Lithuania’s most prominent violinists, she is an active concert performer as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra concertmaster, and initiator of cultural projects. She won the grand prize at the international “Violine in Dresden” competition in Germany, after which she was invited to perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto at the “Dresdner Musikfestspiele” festival. The violinist has performed in prestigious concert halls across Europe and the United States, including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Juilliard School in New York, and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. D. Dėdinskaitė served as concertmaster of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and later of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.

Gleb Pyšniak (cello)

At the age of fourteen, he made his debut as a soloist with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, conducted by Prof. Saulius Sondeckis. A student of the legendary cellist Natalia Gutman, he performs in the world’s most renowned concert halls, including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. As a soloist, he has performed with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, “Sinfonietta Riga,” the Porto Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles. G. Pyšniak is a laureate of national and international competitions and has been honored by Valdas Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania, for promoting Lithuania’s name around the world.

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EVENT INFORMATION

Date and time: October 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Vilnius Choral Synagogue

Address: 39 Pylimo St., Vilnius

Price: starting at 13 €

Tickets: HERE

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EVENT ORGANIZER

Ars Lituanica, Public Institution

Contact: arslituanica@gmail.com / +37068754644