5 September, 7 pm
Vilnius Cathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Vladislaus
Teodoro Riccio (c.1540–c.1601)
The mass setting dedicated to Stefan Batory, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania
Project director and conductor Detlef Bratschke (Germany)
Brevis choir (Lithuania), director Gintautas Venislovas
Vocal ensemble Duodeco (Lithuania), director Povilas Vanžodis
Participants of 16th century polyphonic music performance masterclass
Schola Gregoriana Sancti Casimiri (Poland), director Mariusz Perkowski
Aušra & Vidas Pinkevičius (Lithuania) – grand organ
Alina Rotaru (Germany) – positive organ
Ainārs Paukšēns (Latvia) – cello
Teodoro Riccio’s Liber primus missarum (1579) is the first published music we know of that pays homage to Stephen Báthory (1533–1586), after his election as the new king of Poland in 1576. It is a document of major political significance, which served an important diplomatic purpose at a time still shaken by the political instability prior to Báthory’s election. It is also the first musical publication to have been printed in Königsberg under the patronage of Riccio’s employer, the Duke of Prussia, Georg Friedrich of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In its dedication, the maestro di capella Teodoro Riccio addresses Stephen Báthory as both King of Poland as well as Grand Duke of Prussia, and in doing so, strengthens the political bonds between these neighbouring countries.
Conductor, organist and harpsichordist Detlef Bratschke is the artistic director of the renowned Balthasar Neumann Choir and a professor at the University for the Arts in Bremen. He is a guest of our festival for the second time after last year’s Riccio’s Vespers project, which took place under his direction.
Dedicated to Vilnius 700th anniversary
* Here you can download the concert programme.
Free admission, donations desired
