Lithuania Commemorated the 20th Anniversary of Lithuania’s Membership to UNESCO and the 100th Anniversary of the Death of M.K. Ciurlionis
On 5 December 2011, the Permanent Delegation of Lithuania to UNESCO, together with the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in France, solemnly commemorated the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership to UNESCO, as well as the 100th anniversary of the death of Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, Lithuanian painter and composer (1875-1911).
The fact that these two events are celebrated in 2011 is not the only commonality they have. Even more importantly, they are associated with significant Lithuania’s recognition at the international level. Despite the fact the achievements of M.K. Ciurlionis have already been appreciated nationally and globally for long decades, in 2009 the UNESCO General Conference inscribed the 100th anniversary of the death of M.K. Ciurlionis on the list of anniversaries with which the Organization is associated in 2011.
In order to present the art of M.K. Ciurlionis to members of wider public, an exhibition of reproduced paintings and photos of this grand Lithuanian painter was organized, together with a music concert. On this occasion, to Paris were invited the M.K. Ciurlionis Quartet as well as young pianists Morta Grigaliunaite and Gryta Tatoryte, in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of the painter and composer M.K. Ciurlionis. A number of his works as well as others by Frederic Chopin, Michel Sogny and Mindaugas Urbaitis were performed by the Lithuanian musicians.
The M.K. Ciurlionis Quartet, founded thirty-seven years ago by the students of the National Music Academy of Vilnius, has given more than 3,500 concerts in the world and has participated in many festivals such as Berliner Festwochen, Schleswig-Holstein, Fetival Mitte Europa, Vlaanderen, Moravian Autumn, Janekuv Mai and Pietre che Cantao.
Morta Grigaliunaite, a student at the Royal Academy of Music of London, has already performed at major European venues. Her compatriot Gryta Tatoryte, winner of many awards, studies at the Karlsruhe University of Music in Germany and recently won the first prize at the International Piano Competition in Agropoli, Italy, and prize for the best performance of a work of Beethoven.
These young Lithuanians, aged 20 and 22 years old, have been awarded grants by the SOS Talents Foundation, established in 2000 by Michel Sogny, pianist, composer and teacher, to support talented young people who study piano and, more importantly, to promote their creativity. M. Sogny is also Lithuania’s Honorary Consul in Switzerland.
