photo: H.E. Ambassador of Lithuania in the Netherlands Mr Neilas Tankevicius with the Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania at the The Grand Opening Concert at Theater aan het Vrijthof of this year’s Internationaal Festival Vocallis, under the inspired artistic direction of Gert Geluk. ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
The Grand Opening Concert at Theater aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht on October 17 marked a truly unforgettable start to this year’s Internationaal Festival Vocallis, under the inspired artistic direction of Gert Geluk.
The Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania with the conductor Martynas Staškus delivered a breathtaking performance that left the audience spellbound. These exceptionally talented young musicians aged 14-18 brought to life the music of the Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis including the evocative symphonic poem In the Forest alongside works by other world-renowned composers. Their passion, precision and youthful energy earned them a well-deserved standing ovation. The evening also featured the distinguished Limburg baritone Vincent Kusters, adding a local connection to this international celebration.
H.E. Ambassador of Lithuania in the Netherlands Mr Neilas Tankevicius said that for Lithuanians and friends gathered in Limburg, these concerts were both a homecoming and a celebration — a moment to share in the beauty of our cultural heritage, to honor a genius who gave voice to Lithuania’s soul, and to strengthen the ties between nations and people through the universal language of music. In recent years, these ties have enjoyed a remarkable renaissance, and he said that the reason why this happened carries the name of Čiurlionis.
The Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts with the conductor Martynas Staškus ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
The conductor Martynas Staškus and management of the The Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania with the Dean Hans Bouman and Aloys Bruggeman, honorary consul of Lithuania ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Limburg baritone Vincent Kusters with Aloys Bruggeman, honorary Consul of Lithuania and Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska ©Hans Bouman
A Tribute Through Story and Sound
On October 18, the Leopoldskerkje in Meerssen hosted a remarkable piano recital and storytelling concert by Rokas Zubovas and Sonata Deveikytė-Zubovienė—a duo both on stage and in life. Zubovas, a great-grandson of Čiurlionis, shared intimate insights into the life and creative world of his legendary ancestor, blending music and narration into a moving tribute.
Rokas Zubovas and Sonata Deveikytė-Zubovienė ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Their program featured Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and Čiurlionis’ The Sea (Jūra)—a symphonic poem arranged for piano four hands—as well as selected Sonatas. The performance invited listeners to experience the intersection of myth, sound, and imagination that defines Čiurlionis’ timeless art.
H.E. Ambassador of Lithuania in the Netherlands Mr Neilas Tankevicius ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Gert Geluk, artistic direction of Internationaal Festival Vocallis and Rokas Zubovas ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Rokas Zubovas and Sonata Deveikytė-Zubovienė ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
A Cross-Cultural Moment of Reflection
The celebrations continued on October 19 during the Sunday Service at Pancratius Church in Heerlen, where members of the Čiurlionis School Symphony Orchestra performed as part of a special liturgy. The service, led by dean Hans Bouman on World Missionaries Day, highlighted the beauty of intercultural unity—blending Dutch, English, Latin, and even Lithuanian scripture readings.
Dean Hans Bouman ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Dean Hans Bouman noted the significance of welcoming such a diverse gathering on this symbolic day: “It is wonderful to see cultures intertwine in harmony—just as music transcends borders.” He continued that playing music is not a job, it is experience, it is living and that is the same for the missionary church’’.
Musicians from the Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
At the opening of the service, Aloys Bruggeman, Honorary Consul of Lithuania, welcomed the congregation with heartfelt words:
Dean Hans Bouman and Aloys Bruggeman, Honorary Consul of Lithuania ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
“A Holy Mass is not something we simply do — it is something we celebrate. And today, we celebrate with a distinct Lithuanian touch, here in St. Pancratius Church, a sacred place whose foundations date back to the late 12th century. The music will be performed by the Lithuanian Youth Orchestra from Vilnius, visiting the Netherlands as part of the Vocallis Festival — an event dedicated this year to the theme of Happiness and inspired by the Lithuanian artist and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, who would have celebrated his 150th birthday this year.” Bruggeman added:
“Čiurlionis represents the very best of Lithuania’s musical and artistic heritage. As concert pianist and great-grandson Rokas Zubovas said so beautifully yesterday: ‘After hearing these musicians, we can be confident about the future of Lithuanian musical culture.’”
He noted that one of the readings would be delivered in Lithuanian — “to my knowledge, the very first time this has ever happened in a Dutch Catholic Mass.”
The service was a true testament to friendship between nations, uniting faith, music, and cultural dialogue.
Musicians from the Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Dean Hans Bouman, with Gert Geluk artistic director of Internationaal Festival Vocallis and his wife Angèle. ©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
Gert Geluk artistic director of Internationaal Festival Vocallis, musicians from the Symphony Orchestra of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts from Lithuania and Aloys Bruggeman, honorary consul of Lithuania.©Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
The service can be followed here: kerkdienstgemist.nl/stations/722/events/recording/176086620000722.
The Čiurlionis Legacy Lives On
The young musicians from the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts Symphony Orchestra—often described as Lithuania’s national youth orchestra—spent five inspiring days in Maastricht. Between performances, they were warmly welcomed at the Provinciehuis, explored the city, and shared their music at various venues in and around Maastricht. Arriving by bus from Vilnius on October 16 and departing on October 20, their visit was not only a musical exchange but also a heartfelt cultural dialogue.
This year carries special meaning: 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Čiurlionis’ birth. Across the Netherlands, his multifaceted genius as a composer, painter, and visionary is being honored through a series of events, including:
- A landmark Čiurlionis exhibition at Museum Belvédère (Heerenveen, 2024)
- A gala concert at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague (March 18, 2025)
- A special film screening of Letters to Sofija at Filmhuis De Spiegel (September 30, 2025)
More tributes will follow until November 2, continuing to celebrate Čiurlionis’ enduring influence on art and music.
For the full Festival Vocallis program, including events dedicated to Čiurlionis, visit:
https://festivalvocallis.nl/agenda/categorie/concertagenda/maand/
Čiurlionis: composer and visionary painter
Čiurlionis created around 300 compositions for choir, piano, organ, string quartet, and orchestra, and is recognized as the first composer of Lithuanian symphonic and chamber music. At the same time, he was a groundbreaking painter whose works are often mentioned alongside those of Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, and Wassily Kandinsky.
His art reflects a fusion of Lithuanian mythology, fairy tales, and nature, enriched by influences from ancient Egyptian, Indian, and Asian cultures. While his name remained largely unknown in the West during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, his works began to receive international recognition after the country regained independence in the early 1990s. Today, Čiurlionis’ paintings are exhibited worldwide — from the United States to Japan, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and France — with the largest collection preserved at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas, Lithuania.
