Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Grigorian & Montvidas

To mark Lithuania’s presidency of the European Council, a Lithuanian star cast is heading for Brussels, with the conductor Giedre Slekyte, tenor Edgaras Montvidas and soprano Asmik Grigorian, voted Female Singer of the Year (International Opera Awards 2025). The programme will be tinted yellow, green and red as well, with music by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuania’s cultural pride. The loveliest arias from operas including Lohengrin (Wagner), Madame Butterfly (Puccini) and I Lituani (Ponchielli) might have been written especially for these soloists. In a nod to Bozar, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra will also perform a home-grown piece: Fantasia op.12 by Joseph Jongen babbles like a brook in the Ardennes, but swells like a Lithuanian lake.