Opening concerts of the 10th Sofia Festival | 15-16 May 2026
Sofija Čiurlionienė-Kymantaitė is often mentioned in our culture as the wife and muse of M. K. Čiurlionis, but her biography is a much broader, independent and courageous portrait of a Lithuanian intellectual of the early 20th century. She was a creator, a social activist, one of the first literary and theatre critics, a participant in the modernisation of Lithuanian culture. Sofija’s role in Čiurlionis’s life and work was crucial – she became his language teacher, preserver and disseminator of his work, and turned her loss after her husband’s death into a meaningful life’s work.
In many ways, Sofija was a pioneer of her time: she became involved in political activity at a young age, took an active part in the Lithuanian Women’s Union, was the first leader of the Scouts, and was the only woman to represent Lithuania at the League of Nations. Sofija was awarded the World Medal of the Righteous Among the Nations and the Cross of the Rescue of the Living.
Like many women of her time, Sofija preferred to celebrate her name day rather than her birthday
. We therefore invite you to mark her anniversary year on her name day!
Sofija Čiurlionienė-Kymantaitė is often mentioned in our culture as the wife and muse of M. K. Čiurlionis, but her biography is a much broader, independent and courageous portrait of a Lithuanian intellectual of the early 20th century. She was a creator, a social activist, one of the first literary and theatre critics, a participant in the modernisation of Lithuanian culture. Sofija’s role in Čiurlionis’s life and work was crucial – she became his language teacher, preserver and disseminator of his work, and turned her loss after her husband’s death into a meaningful life’s work.
In many ways, Sofija was a pioneer of her time: she became involved in political activity at a young age, took an active part in the Lithuanian Women’s Union, was the first leader of the Scouts, and was the only woman to represent Lithuania at the League of Nations. Sofija was awarded the World Medal of the Righteous Among the Nations and the Cross of the Rescue of the Living.
Like many women of her time, Sofija preferred to celebrate her name day rather than her birthday
. We therefore invite you to mark her anniversary year on her name day!The guests of the festive concerts in Plungė and Klaipėda are ANTIPHONA, a multi-voice ensemble from Toulouse (France), formed 30 years ago by the Lithuanian-born leader Rolandas Muleika. The ensemble comes to Lithuania with a programme specially prepared for the festival, inviting to transcend geographical and temporal boundaries.
The Splendour of the Belle Époque
In the first part of the concert, we will delve into the music of the French Belle Époque – a period when the sound was elegant and light, with a subtle melancholy beneath the beauty. It was a time of French sophistication and artistic flowering.
In the first part of the concert, we will delve into the music of the French Belle Époque – a period when the sound was elegant and light, with a subtle melancholy beneath the beauty. It was a time of French sophistication and artistic flowering.
The Lithuanian Soul: Čiurlionis and Milašius
The next part of the concert will feature vocal works by M. K. Čiurlionis. They will be performed in Lithuanian by French singers as a tribute to our culture.
The next part of the concert will feature vocal works by M. K. Čiurlionis. They will be performed in Lithuanian by French singers as a tribute to our culture.
“Reflections – a contemporary bridge
The culmination of the evening is Nijolė Sinkevičiūtė’s Reflections, based on texts by Oskaras Milašius. It brings together all the themes of the concert: a poet of Lithuanian origin writing in French, the music of a contemporary Lithuanian composer and French voices on one stage – a lively dialogue between Lithuania and France.
It will be a very special, bright and inspiring evening.
The culmination of the evening is Nijolė Sinkevičiūtė’s Reflections, based on texts by Oskaras Milašius. It brings together all the themes of the concert: a poet of Lithuanian origin writing in French, the music of a contemporary Lithuanian composer and French voices on one stage – a lively dialogue between Lithuania and France.
It will be a very special, bright and inspiring evening.
