Featuring:
Andrius Žiūra - clarinet, bass clarinet
Arkadijus Gotesmanas - percussion
String Quartet Chordos
Ieva Sipaitytė (first violin)
Vaida Paukštienė (second violin)
Robertas Bliškevičius (viola)
Arnas Kmieliauskas (chello)
1. Andante Rubato 7:22
2. Allegretto Con Brio 4:08
3. Postludium 7:07
4. Concerto Claro 13:48
5. ... after Chagall 24:06
Andrius Žiūra has been a soloist of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra since 1998. In 2003, he and his colleagues founded the St. Christopher Woodwind Quintet, with which he has been working successfully for over 20 years. A. Žiūra is also frequently involved in contemporary music projects, performing both as a soloist and as a member of various chamber ensembles. A. Žiūra has premiered the works of many Lithuanian composers. The most memorable works for clarinet, performed for the first time, are "Concerto Claro" by O. Balakauskas and "...after Chagall" by A. Šenderovas, both of which appear on this CD.
Arkady Gotesman is one of Lithuania's most original and prolific jazz musicians. He is not only a percussionist and composer, but also a poet, theatre director, music producer and educator. A. Gotesman is the soul of the Vilnius Klezmer Orchestra and artistic director of many music festivals. A. Gotesman composes music for theatre, records and performs it live, writes scenarios for musical performances and installations, and actively collaborates with artists from various fields.
The Chordos String Quartet was founded in 1997. Since its establishment, the ensemble has been fulfilling its mission – to introduce Lithuanian and foreign audiences to the latest works of Lithuanian and foreign composers.
The Musica Humana Chamber Ensemble of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic (artistic director and conductor Robertas Beinaris) was founded in 1974 as a four-member early music ensemble. Today, Musica Humana has grown into a fourteen-member ensemble performing music from various epochs.
The Vilnius City Municipality St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra (artistic director and chief conductor – Modestas Barkauskas, honorary conductor – Donatas Katkus) is a collective widely known for its versatility, professionalism and artistic imagination. "The St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra champions new works by Lithuanian composers! It is a collective that is proud to perform the music of Lithuanian composers in Lithuania and abroad, and to include it in its programmes alongside the world's most famous classics" (O. Balakauskas).
