Celebrating 130 Years of national pride

  • 2005-06-08
  • By Milda Seputyte
VILNIUS - This year the nation celebrates the 130th birthday of Mykalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, whose name rings as musically to Lithuanians as Mozart does to Austrians.

And while Austria may well boast about being the homeland of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart -one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, Lithuanians are extremely proud to be the nation that Ciurlionis called home. He wasn't only a talented composer with some 300 pieces for piano and orchestra to his credit, but also a gifted painter whose works are appreciated across Europe. In his short 36 years, this extremely prolific artist produced some 200 paintings. But ironically, the greatest Lithuanian artist of all time didn't sell a single painting during his lifetime.

Misunderstood and unappreciated by his contemporaries, today the creations of Ciurlionis arouse wide public interest and respect. To commemorate Ciurlionis' birthday, an international festival of arts is being held in Ciurlionis' childhood home, Druskininkai, this summer. Over 70 cultural events, ranging from concerts and exhibitions to master classes and conferences, will be held throughout the summer months until Sep. 22.

Although the venues for the events will vary, Varena's church will be a fixed venue for concerts. Each Sunday a concert of organ, piano or choir music will be held in this beautiful church in Ciurlionis' hometown. These concerts will be a great opportunity to hear a piece of the composer's legacy.

Ciurlionis inherited his gift for music from his father who was an organist. The symphonic poems In the Forest and The Sea, choral compositions and piano pieces comprise the bulk of Ciurlionis' musical works. Amongst his vast collection of works, Ciurlionis created over two hundred piano compositions.

Although Ciurlionis's versatile talent was revealed in early childhood, he only took up painting seriously in 1903, when he was already a mature and well-known composer. The artist himself did not possess nor proclaim any definite aesthetic philosophy. In short, the comprehension of man's place in the universe and in his epoch is said to be Ciurlionis' dominant theme.

While the importance and originality of his work was appreciated by a part of society, another section of society rejected it as "too modernistic". Ciurlionis' music as well as his painting aroused controversy. And after the composer's death in 1911, while Ciurlionis had won fame as an artist, his music was unfortunately buried into oblivion. Only in 1925 some of Ciurlionis's musical work was once again published.

All in all, Ciurlionis should not be read about, but rather listened to or looked at. The summer festival features some of the best exhibitions about Ciurlionis himself and his artistic work in Druskininkai museums, galleries and sanatoriums. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the versatile talent of Ciurlionis while in Druskininkai.