CONCERTO AND INSTALLATION FOR PIANO AND A PIECE OF FURNITURE

“Concert and Installation for Piano and a Piece of Furniture” is a unique and innovative project that blends the beauty of classical music with modern technology, creating an impressive auditory and visual journey. Presented by the creators of the “Kosmos” theater, this interdisciplinary project invites the audience to reflect on our relationship with ourselves and our environment by exploring the dual nature of the piano as both a musical instrument and a piece of household furniture.

The idea for the project stems from Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich’s thought that a piano without a pianist is merely a piece of furniture, whose true concert and musical potential is determined by the people around it. In this project, a concert grand piano and an old robotic piano engage in a dialogue, revealing their dual nature. Pianist Julija Bagdonavičiūtė, an international competition laureate, performs live fragments of works by renowned composers such as Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Erik Satie, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, George Crumb, and Arvo Pärt. Meanwhile, in another space, the concert is broadcast live with breathtaking sound and light effects integrated into the furniture installation, immersing the audience in a mysterious world.

The project team consists of experienced and talented artists. Electroacoustic music composer Andrius Šiurys created a sound montage reminiscent of a fragmented dream, while electronic music composer Domantas Pūras enriched the broadcast concert with unexpected musical nuances. The mechanized piano installation, which transformed a lonely piano into a breathtaking “actor,” was created by robotics engineer and metallurgist Deividas Dzikevičius. The light choreography and spatial dramaturgy are directed by theater director Žilvinas Vingelis, a laureate of the “Golden Stage Cross.” The collaboration of these talented artists is a perfect example of how academic concert music and modern technology open up new creative potential.

“Concert and Installation for Piano and a Piece of Furniture” successfully debuted in the “OFF” program of the Kaunas Contemporary Performing Arts Festival “ConTempo.” After receiving great interest from the audience, the project was invited to participate in various festivals and events, such as the Kaunas City Chamber Theater Festival “Starting Point,” the Vilnius Light Festival, the “Culture Night” festival, the “Comic Con Baltics” fair, and the classical music festival “Culture Week” in Marijampolė. The versatility of this project allows it to adapt to different audiences and spaces, from avant-garde contemporary art scenes to traditional classical music festivals.

At the end of November, this unconventional spectacle begins its journey through the regions of Lithuania. The live concert and installation will be presented at the Raseiniai Contemporary Music Festival “Unseen Notes,” the Šiauliai Contemporary Art Festival “Virus,” and the cultural centers of Alytus and Panevėžys. Performances will take place on November 29 at the Šiauliai Art Gallery, December 1 at the Alytus Cultural Center, December 5 at the Panevėžys Cultural Center, and December 12 at the Raseiniai Regional History Museum. Tickets are available at bilietai.lt.

This project invites the audience to reflect on how such dialogues can transform our perception of music and expand the boundaries of cultural dialogue. “Concert and Installation for Piano and a Piece of Furniture” is an inspiring example of conceptual audiovisual storytelling, allowing viewers to experience the synthesis of music and technology in a new context.