This summer, the Palanga Concert Hall presents performances by perhaps the most prominent Lithuanian performers. Not only exceptional music but also theater events will take place here. The new, modern hall, which began operating more than a decade ago, has changed not only the fate of summer stage shows, but also the very attitude towards the seaside resort and its cultural life.
Since its opening, this space has become a part of Palanga's cultural and business life. Incidentally, it remains the only hall built after the restoration of independence, over the past two decades, specifically designed and intended for concert events.
A premiere in the Baltic States awaits resort residents and guests
Donatas Montvydas, Rokas Yan, Beissoul & Einius, Mantas Jankavičius, Inga Jankauskaitė, Linas Adomaitis, Alanas Chošnau, etc. These are just some of the famous names in the Lithuanian music scene that can be seen on the posters of this summer's Palanga Concert Hall.
Theater fans can also look forward to special events. The Anželika Cholina Dance Theater will present two dance performances: “The Tale of Kings” based on the music of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and other Lithuanian composers, and “Youth” based on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Meanwhile, the Oskaras Koršunovas Theater will present the performance “The Sacred”, based on the novel “Mary the Egyptian” by V. Jasukaitytė, with actress Egle Jackaite, and “The Wedding” based on B. Brecht’s play “The Town Wedding”.
The famous opera soloist Asmik Grigorian will also perform at the Palanga Concert Hall with a fantastic and unique program "A Diva is Born". This is a performance that no opera soloist has dared to create so far.
This summer, the resort's residents and guests will also be treated to a premiere in the Baltics: Palanga will become the epicenter of French energy. For the first time, global superstar Alizée, the singer of the hit "Moi... Lolita", will be coming to Lithuania, where she will perform on stage together with Jonathan Dassin, the son of the legendary J. Dassin.
Record number of events and increasing viewership
Today, the Palanga Concert Hall's record number of events and increasing audience flow confirm that the hall is successfully fulfilling its purpose. It is thanks to this space that Palanga can offer quality events all year round.
As one of the most popular performers in the country, Rokas Yan, has noted, this space stands out precisely because it is a concert hall. “It is not a sports arena, where concerts are held among other events, as is often the case. The layout of the hall in the style of an amphitheater reminds me of many European concert halls that I have visited, and it gives the audience excellent visibility and allows you to feel a closer connection between the stage and the audience,” the performer notes.
According to Rokas, the audience here is always distinguished by its relaxation and willingness to fully surrender to the emotion of the concert, which he himself tries to create. Perhaps this is because, the performer thinks, many come here to relax, take a vacation, and forget about everyday worries for a while.
The last time R. Yan performed at the Palanga Concert Hall was on the first day of this year. According to the singer, it was memorable in every way. "I remember that there was a festive New Year's mood among the whole team. We were relaxed after the intense arena shows and allowed ourselves to joke around more. Not only champagne glasses were raised on stage - even my manager briefly became a cameraman and ran out to film with a camera. And the most reminiscent of the movie was the trip home during a huge blizzard and our bus skidding off the road. Since everything ended well, today we remember it with a smile," the performer said cheerfully.
The famous performer Linas Adomaitis calls the Palanga Concert Hall a simply legendary space. The autograph of maestro Stasys Povilaitis on the facade of this concert hall also brings a feeling of cozy nostalgia to the singer. “This only further strengthens the special spirit that exists in this particular musical space. I will not hide it, I always look forward to performances at the Palanga Concert Hall, because this is where my biggest summer concerts take place. And it has been like this for about five years in a row,” says the singer.
In this concert hall, L. Adomaitis has performed with both the Vilnius City Ensemble NIKO and the KTU Academic Choir “Jaunystė”. Linas revealed that during this year’s concert he will perform one piece in a duet with the choir’s director, Danguole Beinarytė.
According to the performer, the audience in Palanga really stands out, especially in the summer, because people who live a holiday rhythm usually gather here. "You can immediately feel the feeling of relaxation. Many people are dressed up, in a festive mood, and like to sing along with the performer. It's also fun to chat with the fans after the concert and take pictures together," Linas recalls warm concert moments in Palanga.
One of the most prominent pop music performers in the country, Donatas Montvydas, invites you to a special concert on the seaside this summer. At the Palanga Concert Hall, listeners will be treated to not only the biggest hits, but also the latest works that are just making their way into the hearts of the audience. This time, D. Montvydas will be supported on stage by a live band and dancers. Recently, the performer has been actively working in the studio and is increasingly presenting a new sound at concerts - more modern, mature and even more reflective of his creative evolution. Fans have already noticed that he is experimenting more and more boldly with sounds and stage form, and the singer's performances are famous not only for the highest musical quality, but also for a deep emotional connection with the audience, especially at the seaside.
Greta Cholina, director of the Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre and one of its founders, is happy that the Palanga Concert Hall has been welcoming the ACH Theatre to full houses for a decade. “It has already happened that Palanga always occupies a special place on the ACH Theatre’s tour route around Lithuania, and it is the summer performances that have been the culmination of our season for many years,” says G. Cholina. “That is why meetings with the audience at the resort are always exceptional. The large number of audiences and the extremely warm reception show that our theatre is always welcome and loved here.”
G. Cholina notes that people from all over Lithuania come to Palanga in the summer – even from the most remote corners of the country, where the theatre does not always manage to come with technically complex, large-scale performances. It is the Palanga Concert Hall that creates a unique opportunity for the theatre and the audience to meet.
In addition, according to the director of the ACH theater, there is another, more personal tradition associated with Palanga. For several years now, performances in the resort have coincided with the birthday of its founder and artistic director, director-choreographer Anželika Cholina, which she celebrates on July 30. “Let’s celebrate Anželika’s birthday together and rejoice in another successful season,” says G. Cholina. “It’s always very nice to sum up the year and mark these occasions in Palanga, right in midsummer. After all, this is one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania, a real summer capital of ours!”
Became one of the most important cultural symbols of the city
"In just over a decade, the Palanga Concert Hall has become not only the center of the resort's cultural life, but also one of the most prominent symbols of the city's identity, attracting about 1,3 million visitors from Lithuania and abroad. Thanks to this hall, Palanga can offer high-quality events all year round, inviting audiences to concerts and events by famous performers," says Palanga Mayor Šarūnas Vaitkus.
According to Š. Vaitkus, in order to further expand the cultural potential, the House of Music and Art has already been designed and has a building permit. It will be connected to the Concert Hall by an underground passage, thus forming a single cultural complex.
"We can only rejoice that the Palanga Concert Hall not only maintains a high standard of quality, but also becomes a symbol of creativity, professionalism, and cultural innovation," says the mayor of the resort.
A culturally rich weekend by the sea
Today, the Palanga Concert Hall is open all year round – not just in the summer or on weekends. It has become a place that people come to Palanga specifically for – to listen to a concert, see a performance, attend a conference (the annual "Breaking Point") or simply spend a culturally rich weekend by the sea.
"Our team is making a lot of efforts to make Palanga Concert Hall a concert space not only for the resort, but also for the whole of Lithuania. Statistics show that visitors from all over Lithuania (mostly from Vilnius, Kaunas) and even other European countries come to our events," says Aida Aleksandrovienė, director of Palanga Concert Hall, emphasizing that there is close cooperation with accommodation providers, because it is no secret that events held at the resort directly affect hotel occupancy.
According to Laura Taučiūtė, president of the Palanga Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Palanga Concert Hall's activities are a huge added value for the resort. "This space has significantly contributed to reducing seasonality. Even in the cold season, famous performers and groups appear here not only from Lithuania, but also from all over the world. The performances attract a full concert hall. All this is significantly felt by restaurants and hotels - after the concerts, people stay for dinner in the restaurant, buy accommodation in the hotel. And thus they create a small celebration for themselves," notes L. Taučiūtė.
Photo authors: Tadas Virbickis, Kamilė Aukštikalnė, Martynas Aleksa and Karina Mečkovska.
