Dance performance based on the music of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and other Lithuanian composers
“The Tale of Kings” is an epic, poetic dance performance that sensitively and dramatically reveals the extraordinary, still too little known life story of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The main characters of the performance are not only Čiurlionis himself in the three ages of his life and not only the most important women in his life (first love Marija Moravska, patron Bronislava Volman, Čiurlionis' wife Sofija Kymantaitė), but also Čiurlionis's essence – his CREATION. The performance will revive Čiurlionis's special and deep world, which became for him suffering and God's gift in one, and will be embodied by 25 artists of the ACH Theatre Youth Troupe.
"In this work, it is important for me to recreate as accurately as possible the psychological portrait of Čiurlionis the man, his relationship to his work, the women in his life, his early tragic fate, when his soul, unrecognized in time, drowning in poverty and darkness, leaves this world before his body..." - says Anželika Cholina, the director, choreographer and author of the libretto of the performance.
The musical fabric of "The Tale of the Kings" is full of a gentle Lithuanian spirit. It contains the most beautiful interpretations of Čiurlionis's musical works, as well as musical dedications to Čiurlionis by Lithuanian composers.
"This performance is like a reminder to us about the work of the great Lithuanian genius and its significance. In it, I sought to convey the dramatic life story of Čiurlionis as authentically as possible, therefore I believe that the importance of the national theme, the directorial decisions, choreography, aesthetics and meaning of the work will touch the souls of the audience, and excited hearts will carry the message from mouth to mouth, creating the lasting value of this performance for future generations..." - says Anželika Cholina.
Director-choreographer and libretto author – Anželika Cholina
Set designer – Marijus Jacovskis
Costume designer – Olga Filatova Kontrimiene
Lighting designer – Eugenijus Sabaliauskas
Video artist – Tomas Stonys
Teacher-tutor – Živilė Baikštytė
Hair and makeup artist – Dalia Žakytė
The performance features 32 soloists from the Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Kaunas State Musical Theatre, as well as artists from the ACH Youth Troupe.
