The Thrush – the Green Bird
Panevėžys Musical Theatre tour in Klaipėda
When a human returned into a Bird,
The Bird, in turn, was moving toward the Human.
The opera-poem „Strazdas – žalias paukštis“ (The Thrush – the Green Bird), created by the distinguished artists Bronius Kutavičius and Sigitas Geda, reveals the subtle poetic powers of the word, the elemental force of nature and love, the beauty of music, and the importance of national history.
The image of the peasant bard Strazdelis (Antanas Strazdas-Drazdauskas), which grew out of the metaphor of wings, the bird-like quality of the poet’s surname, and his unique personality, is transformed in director Jonas Vaitkus’s production into the character of the Human-Bird. Through various means of expression—dance, folklore elements, and traditional hymns—the performance speaks about the union of man and woman, the depths of the spirit, the boundaries between nature and the human being, and the meaning of existence.
In the autumn of 2023, Strazdas – the Green Bird was revived in the native city of Bronius Kutavičius at the Panevėžys Musical Theatre. As in its first staging, the production was directed by Jonas Vaitkus. This time, the opera-poem is performed live, without recorded sound. The musical director is the talented young conductor Imantas Jonas Šimkus.
Sigitas Geda first wrote the poem “Strazdas” in 1967. Later, Bronius Kutavičius composed an unusual oratorio, initially calling it a “drama of sounds,” and later renaming it the opera-poem “Strazdas – the Green Bird” (1980). In 1984, based on these works, Jonas Vaitkus created an unforgettable ritualistic and sacred performance at the Kaunas Drama Theatre. In 1990, a cinematic version of the production was made. At the time, Strazdas seemed to invite audiences to step away from “politics” into the sphere of pure art and immerse themselves in a refined flow of images that united Lithuanian folk art with the aesthetic principles of traditional Eastern theatre.
The personality and works of Antanas Strazdas-Drazdauskas inspired many Lithuanian artists. Music lovers are also well acquainted with the song by Vytautas Kernagis based on Geda’s poem “Strazdas.”
Bronius Kutavičius’ oeuvre encompasses a broad cultural context, revealing deep layers of national history and prehistory, materializing archetypes of mythological and religious consciousness. His harmonious and sometimes intricately constructed systems of sound always breathe with vitality and emotional force. Kutavičius overcame public distrust and resistance toward contemporary music. Although he freely employed a wide range of modern compositional techniques, the most significant influence on his style was the unique polyphonic technique of repeating vocal lines found in the sutartinės of Northeastern Lithuania. This marked a conscious “turn” toward paganism—spiritually close to Geda’s creative vision as well.
Geda modernized Lithuanian poetry, while Kutavičius became a symbol of musical renewal. Their joint works are canonical landmarks of Lithuanian modern art, shaping a new phenomenon—pagan avant-gardism.
The project is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
