A LA LUNA
A show of music, lights and stories: Sarah Brightman songs and popular classics
“A la luna” was first and foremost conceived as a stunning open-air spectacle, using music, images, costumes, light, and movement to create the romantic, slightly mystical mood of a moonlit night, and to tell stories about the feelings experienced at this time of day. The Moon is the main inspiration behind and, hopefully, a participant in this spectacle. Since time immemorial, its gravitational pull has influenced the biological rhythms of nature and human beings and stirred the imagination of poets, musicians, and artists. This show, which brings together all the arts, is mounted on a full-moon-shaped stage, which has been set up for the first time in the shipyard, and features many of the Moon’s mythological images and symbols, freely interpreted by the creators of this show.
The dramaturgy of “A la luna” is based on a dichotomy of light vs dark sides of the Moon: the light side, which always faces the Earth, and the dark side, which is never seen. Director Rūta Bunikytė says, “The light side is more familiar to us, celebrated and loved by the poets, whereas the dark side always remains in the shadows, shrouded in a frightening unknown and mystery. They talk and misunderstand, tell their stories and compete with each other, but they are not destined to become one. Occasionally, male characters appear in these stories—each goddess’s separate love line.”
The show’s musical programme will interweave popular classics and classical crossover hits from the repertoire of Sarah Brightman, an international singing superstar. One of her best-selling albums, La Luna (2000), inspired the festival organisers to produce this fusion show.
The moon goddesses in this show will be embodied by the soloists Rita Petrauskaitė and Beata Ignatavičiūtė, who shine brightly on the stage of the Klaipėda State Musical Theatre, consistently winning praise from the audiences and critics alike for their wide-ranging repertoire in different genres of musical theatre. Their feelings will be fuelled by the no less brilliantly talented tenor Merūnas Vitulskis, who is well known to both opera and popular music fans in Lithuania and abroad. The musical programme, performed by the KSMT Symphony Orchestra, soloists, backing vocalists, and ballet dancers, is directed by guest conductor Martynas Staškus, who has been cooperating closely with the theatre for almost a decade.
PROGRAMME
Claude Debussy – “Clair de lune” from the Suite bergamasque (1890), version for orchestra
Perf. by KSMT Symphony Orchestra
“Hijo de la luna”
Music and lyrics by José María Cano (1986); from the album La luna, 2000
Soloist Rita Petrauskaitė
“La Califfa”
Music: Ennio Morricone (main theme from the music for the film of the same title); lyrics: Alberto Bevilacqua (1971); from the album La luna, 2000
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists): Emilia Janina Kozłowska, Lina Lukauskienė, Dina Mataitienė, Vitalija Trinkė (sopranos), Aušra Nevulienė, Reda Jucevičienė (altos), Martynas Valančius (tenor), Vytautas Valys (baritone)
Antonín Dvořák – Rusalka’s aria “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém” from the opera Rusalka (1901)
Soloist Rita Petrauskaitė
“Figlio perduto”
Arrangement: Michael Soltau, Frank Peterson (after Ludwig van Beethoven’s Allegretto from the Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92); lyrics: Chiara Ferraú; from the album La luna, 2000
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
“Scène d’amour”
Music: Bernard Herrmann (from the music for the film Vertigo, 1958); from the album Eden, 1998
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė, Beata Ignatavičiūtė
“Caruso”
Music and lyrics by Lucio Dalla (1986)
Soloist Merūnas Vitulskis
“Canto della Terra”
Music: Francesco Sartori; lyrics: Lucio Quarantotto (1999); from the album Symphony (feat. Andrea Bocelli), 2008
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė and Merūnas Vitulskis, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
“Breathe me”
Music and lyrics by Sia Kate Isobelle Furler; arr. by Dan Carey (2004); from the album Dreamchaser, 2013
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Ballet Company
“It’s a Beautiful Day”
Music: Sarah Brightman, Frank Peterson (after Cio-Cio San’s aria “Un bel dì” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly); lyrics: Christopher von Deylen, Frank Peterson, Sarah Brightman after Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica; from the album Harem, 2003
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
Manuel de Falla – “Danza ritual del fuego” from the ballet El amor brujo (1924)
Perf. by KSMT Symphony Orchestra
Georg Friedrich Händel – Almirena’s aria “Lascia chi’o pianga” from the opera Rinaldo (1711)
Soloist Rita Petrauskaitė
“Time to Say Goodbye”
Music: Francesco Sartori, Frank Peterson; lyrics: Lucio Quarantotto (1995); from the album Timeless (feat. Andrea Bocelli), 1997
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė, Merūnas Vitulskis
Georg Friedrich Händel – Serse’s aria “Ombra mai fu” from the opera Serse (1738)
Soloist Rita Petrauskaitė
“Angel”
Music and lyrics by Jerry Burns and Sally Herbert; from the album Dreamchaser, 2013
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
“Nella fantasia”
Music: Ennio Morricone (“Gabriel’s Oboe” theme from the music for the film Mission, 1986); lyrics: Chiara Ferraú; from the album Eden, 1998
Soloist Rita Petrauskaitė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
“Anytime, Anywhere”
Arrangement: Frank Peterson, Michael Soltau (after Remo Giazotto’s Adagio in G minor, attributed to Tomaso Albinoni); lyrics: Chiara Ferraù; from the album Eden, 1998
Soloist Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists) and Ballet Company
Giacomo Puccini – Calaf’s aria “Nessun dorma” from the opera Turandot (1926)
Soloist Merūnas Vitulskis, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
“Sanvean”
Music: Lisa Gerard, Andrew Claxton (1993); from the album Symphony (2008)
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė, Beata Ignatavičiūtė
“Glósóli”
Music and lyrics by Sigur Rós: Jón Þór Birgisson, Orri Páll Dýrason, Georg Hólm, Kjartan Sveinsson (2005); lyrics translated into English by Chris Difford; from the album Dreamchaser (2013)
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė, Beata Ignatavičiūtė
“Better is one day”
Music and lyrics by Matthew James Redman (1995); from the album Hymn (2018)
Soloists: Rita Petrauskaitė, Beata Ignatavičiūtė, KSMT Choir members (backing vocalists)
