The Imaginary Opera Jūratė by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis regarded opera as a vital form of national cultural identity and, as early as 1906, resolved to create a Lithuanian opera. This ambition was strengthened by his acquaintance with Sofija Kymantaitė (later Čiurlionienė), who prepared a libretto based on the legend of Jūratė and Kastytis by Liudvikas Adomas Jucevičius. Letters reveal that the composer developed musical ideas, planned scenes, choruses, and even the overall structure of the opera, yet he never managed to fully notate the work.

The surviving sketches disclose marine imagery, motifs of folk songs, and a bold musical language—signs of how deeply he was immersed in the concept of Jūratė. Drawing on these fragments, correspondence, and set design sketches, and employing contemporary technologies, the imaginary opera Jūratė was created.

The opera tells the legend of the sea goddess Jūratė and her love for the fisherman Kastytis, a love shattered by the wrath of Perkūnas. In the finale, the “Eternal Duet” resounds, symbolizing everlasting love—a vision that Čiurlionis himself never had the chance to realize.

Historical Consultant: Rokas Zubovas
Librettist: Julius Keleras
Composers: Mantautas Krukauskas, Arvydas Malcys, Mykolas Natalevičius
Director and Puppet Designer: Gintarė Radvilavičiūtė
Choreographer: Sigita Mikalauskaitė
Set and Costume Designer: Renata Valčik
Lighting Designer: Eugenijus Sabaliauskas
Conductor: Karolis Variakojis

Soloists

Jūratė – Lauryna Bendžiūnaitė (soprano)
Kastytis – Romanas Kudriašovas (baritone)
Perkūnas – Raimundas Juzuitis (bass)

Actors

Konstantinas – Telman Ragimov
Sofija – Sigita Mikalauskaitė
Also featuring – Viktorija Aliukonė-Mirošnikova, Nikolaj Antonov, Jauhenas Bakala, Larisa Popova

Orchestra

Vilniaus miesto savivaldybės Šv. Kristoforo kamerinis orkestras
(Artistic Director and Conductor Modestas Barkauskas)

First Violins – Jonė Barbora Kiznė, Miglė Dikšaitienė, Nadia Ochrimenko-Galė, Rapolas Venckus
Second Violins – Aidas Jurgaitis, Rugilė Šilalytė, Irena Milošaitė, Dalia Tamošiūnienė
Violas – Mintautas Kriščiūnas, Birutė Dučmanaitė-Bitaitienė, Birutė Ilčiukaitė
Cellos – Domas Jakštas, Vaidas Tamošiūnas, Laima Ritikytė
Double Bass – Oliveris Ramonas

Vytenis Gurstis (flute), Ugnius Dičiūnas (oboe), Karolis Kolakauskas (clarinet), Vytautas Giedraitis (bass clarinet), Tomas Rubinas (bassoon), Stefano Berluti (French horn I), Albinas Stonys (French horn II), Andrius Stankevičius (trumpet), Jonas Kunčius (trombone), Danielius Patrikas Kišūnas (tuba), Lukas Budzinauskas and Jose Vicente Fusco Rojas (percussion), Liucilė Uršulė Vilimaitė (harp)

Choir

Vilniaus miesto savivaldybės choras Jauna muzika
(Artistic Director and Conductor Vaclovas Augustinas)

Lina Valionienė, Viktorija Šedbaraitė, Augustė Andrijauskaitė, Vaiva Joana Jakštaitė, Gabrielė Valionytė, Onutė Aleksiūnaitė, Evita Rudžionytė, Justė Andrikonytė, Ūla Marija Barbora Zemeckytė, Deimantė Motiejūnaitė, Beata Rapalavičiūtė, Justinas Šaltenis, Deividas Janušas, Domantas Balsas, Romas Makarevičius, Dainius Balsys, Tomas Kreimeris, Mantas Gontis, Justinas Valaitis

Assistant Director: Gina Busko
English Translation of the Libretto: Julius Keleras

Producer: Operomanija
Co-producer: Vilnius Old Theatre
Partners: Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Klaipėda Puppet Theatre, Naujasis teatras, Lithuanian Composers’ Union

The AI tool Composer’s Assistant 2, developed by Dr. Martin Malandro (USA), was used in the creation of the opera.

Duration: 100 minutes (2 acts with intermission)
Premiere: 24 October 2025, Vilnius Old Theatre, 9th Contemporary Opera Festival NOA

Performed in Lithuanian with English subtitles.