By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
On March 18, 2025, the Royal Conservatory of The Hague hosted a remarkable gala concert that marked two significant milestones in Lithuania’s history: the 35th anniversary of the restoration of its independence and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, one of the country’s most celebrated composers and artists. Organized by the Embassy of Lithuania in the Netherlands and the Royal Conservatory, the event drew an esteemed audience of diplomats, political, cultural and business leaders, members of the Lithuanian diaspora, and Lithuanian students.
Watch the speech of H.E. Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania in the Hague, Mr. Neilas Tankevičius.
Held in one of the most modern concert halls in the Netherlands, the gala served as a tribute to the genius of Čiurlionis, who is often regarded as a pioneer of European abstract art and a key figure in the Symbolist and Art Nouveau movements.
The evening featured a series of performances by talented Lithuanian students from the Royal Conservatory, including pianist Ina Narkutė, cellist Mudrė Buckutė, guitarist Milda Orvydaitė, and vocalist Louka Budvytis. The concert was hosted by Kurt Van Eeghem, a prominent advocate for Lithuanian culture, who was awarded the Order “For Merit to Lithuania” by President Gitanas Nausėda in 2023. Van Eeghem also authored a book on Čiurlionis, further cementing his dedication to promoting the composer’s legacy worldwide.
The concert program showcased several of Čiurlionis’ works for piano, cello, violin, and guitar, with the guidance of Maestro Rokas Zubovas. The event was made possible with the support of Lithuanian-capital companies operating in the Netherlands, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The concert was also broadcast live on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ YouTube channel, extending the reach of this celebration to an even wider international audience.
This gala concert was part of a broader initiative to introduce Čiurlionis’ artistry to the Dutch public. In 2024, a groundbreaking exhibition of Čiurlionis’ works was held at the Museum Belvedere in Heerenveen, in collaboration with the National Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Art Museum in Lithuania. More events to celebrate his artistic contributions are in the works, including a concert at the International Festival Vocalis in Limburg this October.
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) created about 300 compositions for choir, piano, organ, string quartet and orchestra. Furthermore, he was the first to compose Lithuanian symphonic and chamber music. In addition, his name is often mentioned alongside iconic artists such as Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, and Wassily Kandinsky, as he was one of the foremost figures in European symbolism and abstract art. His works are deeply influenced by Lithuanian mythology, fairy tales, and nature, as well as by non-Western cultures such as Ancient Egypt, India, and Asia. Though Čiurlionis’ works remained largely unknown in Western countries during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, they began to gain international acclaim after the country regained independence in the early 1990s. Today, his works are exhibited around the world, including in the United States, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, and France. The majority of Čiurlionis’ paintings are housed in the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. Additionally, in Druskininkai, the town where Čiurlionis was born and spent much of his life, the Čiurlionis Museum was established in 1963, preserving the legacy of the artist and his family.
Through events like the one held at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Čiurlionis’ legacy continues to shine brightly, not only in Lithuania but also on the global stage, inspiring new generations to appreciate his profound contributions to both music and visual arts.
Photos: Ema Dabrilkaitė Vimbaraitė, M.Žičkus
