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Macdara Ó Seireadáin (clarinet)
Gintaras Januševičius (piano)
This unique program for clarinet and piano transports the listener to the 19th century. the end and XX. a at the beginning, when the gloomy harmony of jazz began to pool more and more in the music sky to the point of admiration. By enriching the previously existing musical languages, jazz permeated the most conservative forms and allowed the audience to experience the musical phenomenon in a new way. Gloomy and dark harmonies, dissonances - as if dark clouds settled over the city, as the sun disappears behind the horizon. They reveal the pain, loss and degeneration of life, but at the same time the ability to survive its dark hours with humor and a smile. This is especially important in a year when lives are crippled by both world wars.
This Irish-Lithuanian duo debuted back in 2010, and became famous in Lithuania after a successful tour in 2017. In the recital at the Pažaislis festival, which became the culmination of the tour, the audience listened to the duet's arrangements, among which was the interpretation of Linas Rimša's "Strazda", which received a stormy ovation from the audience. The ever-surprising duet often presents rarely performed chamber repertoire and original works to the audience.
Johannes Brahms's last sonata for clarinet and piano will be the focus of the duet's latest program, and in addition to it, the listeners will get to know the practically unknown music creators in Lithuania - Gabriel Grovlez, Germaine Tailleferre, Alec Templeton, Paquito d'Rivera, Erwin Schulhoff. Especially for this tour, the performers have also adapted the sonata for saxophone and organ by Lithuanian jazz great Saulius Šiaučiulis - the premiere of the new version will be played.
Macdara Ó Seireadáin is originally from Dublin and graduated from the Hanover College of Music and Theater and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied with Johannes Peitz and John Finucane respectively. The winner of multiple competitions has performed as a soloist with many orchestras. A keen chamber musician, he has collaborated with John O'Connor, Ailish Tynan, Sharon Kam, Finghin Collins and the Apollon Musagete Quartet. After holding various positions in Austrian and German orchestras, he joined the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 2019 as Principal Clarinet. He performed throughout Europe, USA, Canada, China, Chile, India. He is also a member of the Dublin-based Ficino Ensemble, with whom he has recorded two CDs.
Pianist Gintaras Januševičius has been surprising his listeners with inventive programs for ten years. Listeners will not forget his "Dream Catcher", "New Colossus", "Stories of the Merchant of Venice" or "The Little Prince" for a long time. In each program, G. Januševičius, as if a chameleon, reincarnates not only into different characters, but also moves to another era, culture or musical style. While refining his unique programs for many years, he carefully selects the works and, as it were, gathers them into a single musical necklace, which he further embellishes with stories, images, acting elements or even smells. With his innovative concert ideas, he charms the listeners of New York, Paris, London, Zurich, Rio de Janeiro and famous music festivals, and he also returns to Lithuanian concert halls every year.
