On May 15, one of the season’s most anticipated events will take place at the National Gallery of Art as part of the Vilnius Spring Festival: a concert by the internationally acclaimed and Grammy Award-winning state chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga (Latvia), joined by one of the most talented young-generation violinists, Daniil Bulayev!
This concert is a special gift to Lithuanian audiences: works by Baltic composers, the impeccable sound of the orchestra, and a world-class soloist performance invite all to a true celebration of contemporary classical music.
“Sinfonietta Rīga concerts are highly anticipated by both music connoisseurs and anyone who appreciates high-level performances and superb orchestral sound. We are thrilled to welcome the orchestra alongside one of the brightest young Latvian violinists, Daniil Bulayev, whose charisma captivates audiences across Europe’s concert halls. The program prepared specially for this concert is also exceptional, featuring music by composers from the Baltic region. Listeners will enjoy a broad retrospective of the creative output of our closest neighbors—from the sounds of nature and introspection to holiday moods and even tango rhythms! This special concert’s program is truly diverse and engaging, ensuring that every listener finds a favorite piece,” shares festival director Nerijus Masevičius.
An Unmatched Ensemble – A Sound That Inspires the Entire Region
Sinfonietta Rīga is a Grammy Award-winning Latvian state chamber orchestra known for its outstanding sound quality and conceptual programs. Since its founding in 2006, the ensemble has nurtured both classical and contemporary chamber music, collaborated with Europe’s most renowned conductors and performers, and performed in the world’s top venues, including New York’s Lincoln Center, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
Their recordings are frequently released by prestigious labels such as ECM, Ondine, Wergo, and Challenge Records. In 2014, Sinfonietta Rīga won a Grammy together with the Latvian Radio Choir for their recording of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s Adam’s Lament.
On Stage – One of the Brightest Violinists
Daniil Bulayev is one of the most prominent names in Latvia’s classical music scene today. Having launched his solo career at the age of five, he has already performed with orchestras such as Kremerata Baltica, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, the Latvian National Opera Orchestra, and the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra.
His performances have been heard in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, Argentina, and Armenia. In 2024, Daniil received the Latvian Music Award for Performance of the Year as a conductor, stage director, and violin soloist for A. Piazzolla’s Maria de Buenos Aires. He is currently studying at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.
The Concert Program – Nordic Energy and Depth
The program will feature contemporary Baltic chamber music, including:
- Action-Passion-Illusion by Erkki-Sven Tüür
- Holiday Music for violin, strings, and percussion by Pēteris Butāns
- De profundis by Raminta Šerkšnytė
- Cantabile for strings by Pēteris Vasks
- Orawa by Wojciech Kilar
The concert will be conducted by Guntis Kuzma, a renowned Latvian conductor and artistic director of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, and recipient of the Grand Latvian Music Award.
The Festival Continues Its International Direction
The May 15 concert at the National Gallery of Art will be the second event of this year’s Vilnius Spring Festival, marking another significant step in the festival’s evolution—with an increasing number of international names, works from the Baltic States, and extraordinary encounters with world-class performers.
Vilnius Spring Festival 