VILNIUS - Vilnius has a new self-perception, an image that it's eagerly waiting to unveil during the city's upcoming Capital Days.
Starting on Sep. 11, Vilnius' City Hall Square, Gediminas Prospect, and Cathedral Square will stage eight days of vibrant cultural performances in an effort to rally Lithuanians, tourists and foreign investors around the country's most dynamic city.
"Our aim is to make Capital Days not only an atractive event for Lithuanians, but also for foreign visitors," the director general of Vilnius festivals, Remigijus Merkelys, said.
In contrast with previous years, this September's celebration will try to avoid the eclectic kaleidoscope of festival activities and maintain a general theme. Concentrating exclusively on high quality art, event organizers decided to cancel the business and social events that formerly accompanied Capital Days.
"We were intending to select calmer, more interesting and high-level cultural events," said Vygaudas Juknelis, coordinator of Capital Days.
"In order to satisfy differing interests, we are providing a cultural program that ranges from folk to opera. However, no pop concert is included in this more prestigious cultural event," he explained.
The event's opening day will be meant to astound visitors. A thunderous parade of 500 trumpet musicians will accompany a gigantic loaf of bread 's intended to break world records 's that will tour the city center on the shoulders of Vilnius' strongmen.
With a street-theater festival scheduled for the same day, Capital Days' opening ceremony will transform Gediminas Prospect into a major drama stage. The theater festival, entitled "Theater Without a Roof," will feature international stage actors from Denmark and Austria, as well as Lithuanian street-theater professionals.
The second day will be entirely devoted to national folk culture, which has been notably on the rise over the last few years. Kalnu Park Stadium will host the traditional play "A World Tree," incorporating fire, song and dance.
Implementing wood and metal constructions, Lithuanian sculptors have crafted seven straw trees, each a unique symbolization of the world's mythological beginning. With ritual dances and traditional Lithuanian folk songs, each of the sculptures will be set ablaze as a symbol of summer's end.
Depending on the weather and the wind, the fire roaring play could continue for up to an hour. Improvising with the bonfire's dancing flames, a unique musical composition will incorporate various vocal and drum professionals.
Yet there remains more than fire to please the eye. For three days the City Hall Square will serve as a mecca for film devotees. Free film screenings will attract both cartoon and short film enthusiasts as the Second International Animated Film Festival, including Lithuania's best animation pieces from between 1996 and 2003, will light up the square on Sep. 13.
The following two nights of film are devoted to Tinklai, an international short film festival. On Sept. 14, a 6-by-8 meter screen will project works that, over the last decade, have either received or been nominated for an Oscar in the short film category.
Also, an international program of nontraditional short movies from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Lithuania and France will rage from documentaries to experimental films.
In the very heart of the city, Cathedral Square will host three nights of concerts starting Sept. 16.
Finally, the 17th Annual Vilnius Jazz festival, distinguished by exotic performers from countries such as India, will commence the weekend. Inspired by travels and studies in India, the Dutch-Indian music project How2BE stands out as an especially unconventional synthesis of raga and jazz.
Capital Days will close with class and esteem as the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and chamber choirs create their version of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Tosca."
