Art Song Gala. Vivace Vilnius festivalis

Date: 2026 August 5 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: St. Kotryna church

· Simon Robinson (bass-baritone)

· Christina Wright-Ivanova (piano)

· Irina Mureșanu (violin)

· Inga Vyšniauskaitė (piano)

Francesco Paolo Tosti

· Non t’amo più

· L’ultima canzone

· La Serenata

· Donna, vorrei morir

· Malìa

Cesare Andrea Bixio

· Mamma

Ralph Vaughan Williams

· Songs of Travel (complete song cycle)

Louis Spohr

· Pieces for violin, voice and piano

George Enescu

· Pieces for violin and piano

Pablo de Sarasate

· Carmen Fantasy

After a great success last year, audience favorites - bass-baritone Simon Robinson and pianist Christina Wright-Ivanova - are returning to the festival. The program of this year's "Vivace Vilnius Art Song Gala" will feature the pearls of Italian vocal lyrics, which will be complemented by one of the most significant works of English vocal chamber music - Ralph Vaughan Williams' song cycle Songs of Travel.

The internationally acclaimed Romanian violinist Irina Mureșanu will appear at the festival for the first time. She will perform works by Louis Spohr, George Enescu and Pablo de Sarasate, including the spectacular Carmen Fantasy. The evening program will combine vocal and instrumental chamber music, revealing the diversity, emotional richness and virtuosity of European music of the 19th and 20th centuries.

At the concert, together with the pianist Inga Vyšniauskaite, 4 other participants of the singer Vivace Vilnius will perform: Sophie Krieger (Germany), Sarah Keller (Germany), Gerda Bornhauser (France / Switzerland), and Liepa Spakauskas (Lithuania / Canada). The program will be complemented by works by Viardot, Handel, and Mendelssohn.

Simon Robinson - biography

Simon Robinson is an internationally acclaimed British bass-baritone who performs in Europe and North America. He graduated from prestigious music studies in the United Kingdom and quickly established himself as an outstanding performer of opera and chamber music.

His repertoire spans various eras, from baroque to contemporary music. A special place in the artist's work is occupied by vocal chamber music and song cycles, which reveal his sensitive sense of poetry and subtle interpretation.

Robinson is a regular guest of international festivals, collaborating with famous pianists and conductors. He is also active in educational work, holding master classes for young singers and advising future opera soloists.

Christina Wright-Ivanova - biography

Christina Wright-Ivanova is a pianist, pedagogue and chamber music specialist who lives and works in the United States. She performs as a soloist and a member of chamber ensembles, actively collaborates with singers and instrumentalists.

The pianist has earned recognition for her delicate art of accompaniment, her ability to respond sensitively to her stage partners and create a coherent musical narrative. Her repertoire covers a wide range of styles, from classical to contemporary works.

In her teaching activities, Wright-Ivanova focuses a lot on chamber music and the education of young performers. She regularly conducts master classes and participates in international music projects.

Romanian-born violinist Irina Mureșanu is one of the brightest performers of her generation, famous for her virtuosity, stage charisma and musical versatility. She studied in Romania and the United States of America, and today she performs in the most important halls of North America and Europe.

The performer has won many international awards, performed with various orchestras and chamber music ensembles. Her repertoire includes both classical and contemporary music, with a special focus on the works of Romanian composers.

Irina Mureșanu is also an active educator, teaching at music colleges in the United States and conducting master classes around the world.

Inga Vyšniauskaitė is a Lithuanian pianist who actively performs as a soloist and chamber music performer. She is a participant in various international projects, collaborating with Lithuanian and foreign instrumentalists and vocalists. The pianist is characterized by sensitive musical thinking, stylistic diversity and the ability to subtly reveal the musical characters of different eras.

A large part of her artistic activity consists of chamber music. Inga regularly participates in concert projects in Lithuania and abroad, prepares programs with young and recognized performers. Her interpretations stand out for their technical precision, musicality and close stage dialogue with partners.

The pianist is also actively engaged in pedagogical work, participates in educational projects and master classes.

Festival partners: DELFI, JCDecaux Lithuania, Hotel Imperial, mineral water AKVILĖ, GO Vilnius.

Festival concert program:

August 2nd, Sunday, 17:00
Vilnius Town Hall
Celebratory 100th Vivace Vilnius concert
Mūza Rubackytė's solo recital

Tuesday, August 4, 19:00
St. Catherine's Church
"The whole universe of Schubert"
Boris Brovtsyn (violin) and Petr Geniuš (piano)

Wednesday, August 5, 19:00
St. Kotrynas church
"Vivace Vilnius Art Song Gala"
Simon Robinson (bass-baritone) and Christina Wright-Ivanova (piano)

Thursday, August 6, 5:00 p.m.
Samuel Bak Museum
"Music unites the world"
Festival students and schoolchildren concert

Friday, August 7, 18:00
Closing concert with festival participants
Vilnius Town Hall
"Bridges across the Atlantic: Lithuania and America"
Dedicated to the 250th anniversary of US independence

Purchasing You can apply for 10 or more tickets: vipklientai@bilietai.lt

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