{"id":7970,"date":"2025-10-12T12:17:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T18:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/?p=7970"},"modified":"2025-10-20T13:15:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T19:15:26","slug":"when-music-turns-cosmic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/when-music-turns-cosmic\/","title":{"rendered":"When Music Turns Cosmic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">Gabrielius Alekna brings the music of <\/span><\/strong><span class=\"s1\"><strong>\u010ciurlionis, Bacevi\u010dius, and other modernist visionaries to U.S. stages this fall.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This fall, pianist Gabrielius Alekna brings his recital \u201eVisionaries and Trailblazers: From \u010ciurlionis to Messiaen\u201d to audiences in Chicago, Portland, Seattle, and New York. The program honors the 150th anniversary of M.K. \u010ciurlionis, Lithuania\u2019s most celebrated artist, whose music and painting together shaped a unique modernist vision, as well as the 120th anniversary of Vytautas Bacevi\u010dius, a pioneering composer whose daring, cosmic style made him a key figure in 20th-century modernism. Both artists pushed Lithuanian music beyond its traditional boundaries and aligned it with the most daring trends in European art.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-7970 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/om4a4740-2-foto-arunas-baltenas\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OM4A4740-2-foto-Arunas-Baltenas.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OM4A4740-2-foto-Arunas-Baltenas.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OM4A4740-2-foto-Arunas-Baltenas-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OM4A4740-2-foto-Arunas-Baltenas-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OM4A4740-2-foto-Arunas-Baltenas-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-7968'>\n\t\t\t\tGabrielius Alekna. (Photo Ar\u016bnas Balt\u0117nas)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Alekna, lauded by legendary conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim as \u201ca highly gifted pianist and musician,\u201d will perform works by \u010ciurlionis and Bacevi\u010dius alongside pieces from contemporaries like Szymanowski, Skriabin, Schoenberg, Jan\u00e1\u010dek, Josef Matthias Hauer, and Olivier Messiaen. These selections form a vibrant portrait of the innovative and visionary spirit behind early modern music. For U.S. audiences, the recital presents an opportunity to discover \u010ciurlionis as a composer, to recognize Bacevi\u010dius as Lithuania\u2019s leading modernist pioneer, and to experience their music within the context of some of Europe\u2019s most daring innovators.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><em>Draugas News<\/em> spoke with Gabrielius about his musical path, his recordings, <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Could you tell us a little about your journey as a pianist \u2013 where you studied, who your most important teachers were, and how you shaped yourself into a performer?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">My path was to a large extent pre-ordained \u2013 my mom wanted me to be a pianist before I was born. When I started formal lessons at the age of five, I already knew I wanted to be a concert pianist. My father, an amateur pianist himself, oversaw my practicing and instilled the discipline needed to progress on this path. A journey of my musical studies, in a way, reflects the story of Lithuania. I received an excellent and free musical and piano education at the National \u010ciurlionis Arts Gymnasium in Vilnius. I was 15 when Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union. Until that point, the best young musicians could only hope to study in Moscow; suddenly, the whole world opened up. I continued studying in Vilnius with my longtime teacher, the late Liucija Dr\u0105sutien\u0117, until the right opportunity came up and I became the first Lithuanian to be accepted at the Juilliard School in New York on a full scholarship. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Many years ago, you received a Lithuanian Foundation scholarship and even played at one of their concerts for emerging artists. What do you remember from that time, and what did it mean for you early in your career?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I received a scholarship from the Lithuanian Foundation not once, but five times! And played in one of their yearly gala events. The only reason I was able to come to study in the US was due to generous scholarships, first from the Juilliard School and also from organizations such as the Lithuanian Foundation. Coming from a still poor post-Soviet country, I couldn\u2019t rely on any support from my parents in Lithuania, and as an international student, I was not allowed to work in the US. I greatly appreciate all the assistance I received from the Lithuanian Foundation during those years, and several years ago, I became a member of the LF myself.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-7970 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/2020-07-28-130-foto-d-matvejev-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2020-07-28-130-foto-D.Matvejev-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2020-07-28-130-foto-D.Matvejev-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2020-07-28-130-foto-D.Matvejev-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2020-07-28-130-foto-D.Matvejev-2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2020-07-28-130-foto-D.Matvejev-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-7965'>\n\t\t\t\tRecording session with composer \u017dibuokl\u0117 Martinaityt\u0117 and conductor Giedr\u0117 \u0160lekyt\u0117, 2020. (Photo by D. Matvejev)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">This fall you\u2019ll be performing in New York, Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. For many listeners, it may be their first chance to encounter the music of \u010ciurlionis and Bacevi\u010dius. What do you hope American audiences will discover in hearing these composers for the first time?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Indeed, the music of Lithuanian composers is not widely known beyond Lithuania, even by professional musicians. My upcoming recitals offer an opportunity to explore the music of two of the most important Lithuanian composers of the 20th century. I\u2019ve placed some of the most characteristic works by \u010ciurlionis and Bacevi\u010dius in the context of stylistically related music of their international contemporaries. I hope my listeners will notice and appreciate the sometimes-unexpected interactions, influences, and interconnectedness of artistic developments from that time. My larger goal is to show that the panorama of 20th-century music is richer and more nuanced than is usually thought. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Many Lithuanian Americans may be familiar with \u010ciurlionis\u2019 music, but far fewer are aware of Vytautas Bacevi\u010dius. How would you describe him as a composer, and why is Bacevi\u010dius important?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"> In the number and quality of his piano and orchestral works, Bacevi\u010dius had no equal among his contemporaries in Lithuania. In interwar Lithuania, he was a leading figure of the modernist movement in music and is now widely acknowledged as a central figure of 20th-century Lithuanian music. Additionally, he was the first and, for a very long time, the only Lithuanian pianist to achieve and maintain international recognition. He was the face of Lithuanian music to his international audiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">This year marks \u010ciurlionis\u2019 150th and Bacevi\u010dius\u2019 120th anniversaries. How do you see their music relating to each other? What threads connect them, and where do they differ?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The idea to juxtapose their music in one recital program occurred to me for a very simple reason \u2013 it was due to their anniversaries. But the more I thought about that, the more links and threads I found that connect Bacevi\u010dius and \u010ciurlionis. That got me very excited! For example, both composers shared a predominantly Polish upbringing and, as already-formed artists, made the difficult decision to identify themselves as Lithuanians. For \u010ciurlionis, Lithuania as a state did not yet exist; for Bacevi\u010dius, the second half of his life was spent under the shadow of the Iron Curtain, cut off from his homeland.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-7970 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/gabrielius-alekna-2010\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gabrielius-Alekna-ELTA-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gabrielius-Alekna-ELTA-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gabrielius-Alekna-ELTA-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gabrielius-Alekna-ELTA-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Gabrielius-Alekna-ELTA-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-7966'>\n\t\t\t\tAlekna in concert. (Photo credit ELTA)\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u010ciurlionis burst into the cultural life of Vilnius at the turn of the twentieth century as an entirely new creative force, while Bacevi\u010dius brought a comparable modern energy, both as composer and as concert soloist of international stature, to Kaunas in the interwar years. Each concentrated his creative fire above all in orchestral and piano music, and in their later works, both revealed a distinctly constructivist approach to composition. Their art, in different ways, reached toward the cosmic and the visionary: \u010ciurlionis most visibly in his paintings, Bacevi\u010dius in the titles of his works and in his conception of himself as an artist. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, their compositions, now considered the greatest achievements of early and mid-20th-century Lithuanian culture, were at the time either misunderstood or simply unknown. Many of their most valuable works were never performed during the composers\u2019 lifetime and were not published until decades after their deaths. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Your program also features music by Szymanowski, Scriabin, Jan\u00e1\u010dek, Hauer, Jolivet, and Messiaen. Was there a particular discovery in preparing this program that excited you?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Yes! What particularly excited me was the realization that, rather than simply tracking stylistic influences, it\u2019s more interesting to highlight unexpected associations and echoes across different periods and styles that cannot be easily explained. For example, some of the idiosyncratic music by the Viennese Josef Matthias Hauer in the 1920s bears uncanny similarities to some of \u010ciurlionis\u2019s preludes written 20 years earlier; however, it is certain that Hauer was unaware of \u010ciurlionis\u2019s music. Similarly, some elements of Leo\u0161 Jana\u010dek\u2019s music (stormy ostinato patterns in the low register combined with a folk-type melody in the high register) are anticipated much earlier in \u010ciurlionis. My program illustrates these particular examples. Similarly, since Bacevi\u010dius cited the French composer Andr\u00e9 Jolivet as one link in the line of composers of \u201ccosmic music,\u201d it was interesting to include some of Jolivet\u2019s music alongside Bacevi\u010dius\u2019s. I hope that the listeners will find these kinds of connections enlightening and enjoyable. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Messiaen\u2019s music is deeply spiritual, while \u010ciurlionis and Bacevi\u010dius also reached for something visionary and cosmic. When you play them, do you feel a kinship in their outlooks?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Very much so. That visionary, \u201ccosmic\u201d aspect is what unites my program. And not only relating to these three composers, but also to Scriabin, Hauer, and Jolivet. It\u2019s fascinating to see how formal and structural aspects of music relate to its spiritual intentions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">You\u2019ve recorded all of Bacevi\u010dius\u2019 piano concertos and three volumes of his solo piano music \u2014 an extraordinary achievement. Many of the works were first recordings. How did it feel to be the first pianist to give them a recorded voice?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It felt great. When, more than 20 years ago, I became interested in Bacevi\u010dius\u2019 music while searching for a topic for my doctoral dissertation at Juilliard, I quickly realized the vast potential for performing, recording, and publishing his music. It was almost unknown at that time, for two reasons. In the US, despite Bacevi\u010dius\u2019 tireless efforts (for instance, his seven solo recitals at Carnegie Hall), he never quite broke into mainstream American musical culture. And behind the Iron Curtain, in the Soviet Lithuania, the work of all emigrant artists was virtually erased from the cultural consciousness. His music is a great untapped treasure. Once I started exploring that treasure, it began to feel like my mission \u2013 to bring Bacevi\u010dius\u2019s music back to Lithuania and to the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-7970 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/img_4644-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"963\" src=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4644-2.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-7967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4644-2.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4644-2-300x241.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4644-2-1024x822.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4644-2-150x120.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-7967'>\n\t\t\t\tGabrielius Alekna with his wife Mariana and their children Nikolas and Clara at the Louvre.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Another major project was \u017dibuokl\u0117 Martinaityt\u0117\u2019s \u201cChiaroscuro Trilogy,\u201d which she wrote especially for you. What was it like to work so closely with a living composer on a piece dedicated to you?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Premiering and recording \u201cChiaroscuro Trilogy\u201d was a very special experience. I felt a special responsibility and joy working with \u017dibuokl\u0117, my dear friend and fellow New Yorker, and can attest that the resulting work for piano and string orchestra is a true masterpiece. Its recording was a surreal experience. The sessions were scheduled in Lithuania in the summer of 2020, during the Covid pandemic. It was not clear until the sessions started whether they would take place, not least because I had to obtain a special permit directly from the Lithuanian Minister of Culture, allowing me to enter Lithuania. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Those recordings have been warmly praised by the New York Times, Gramophone, and others. Has this recognition changed the way international audiences approach Lithuanian music?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">These releases, of course, represent a step forward. I cannot claim too much credit in the case of \u017dibuokl\u0117 Martinaityt\u0117. She is a brilliant composer with many successful works, recordings, and collaborations, and is an excellent communicator. There are hundreds of festivals, ensembles, and organizations dedicated to contemporary music, and new music is, by definition, news-worthy. It\u2019s more difficult to bring to attention the lesser-known music of the earlier part of the 20 century, which often falls through the cracks. That said, the fact that Bacevi\u010dius\u2019 music is now available to listeners worldwide through the records of labels like Naxos or Toccata Classics is a good start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em><strong><span class=\"s1\">Looking ahead, after these concerts in the U.S., what\u2019s next for you? Are there projects you\u2019re especially looking forward to?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Something related \u2013 I had the honor to serve as chair of the jury of the inaugural International Vytautas Bacevi\u010dius piano competition, which just ended in Kaunas. The competition was dedicated to the music written in the last 100 years, i.e. after 1925. After two solo rounds and the finals with orchestra, four brilliant young pianists from UK, Lithuania, and South Korea were awarded monetary and performance prizes. I hope that the competition will become a regular triennial event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I continue preparing Bacevi\u010dius\u2019s piano concertos for publication (none of VB\u2019s orchestral works have ever been published), in collaboration with several Lithuanian institutions. The score and a two-piano arrangement of his 1st Piano Concerto came out this past month (September). The other three concertos are in the pipeline \u2013 it\u2019s a large multi-year undertaking that I\u2019m very proud of. As to performing or recording, I\u2019m interested in presenting more programs like this fall: combining music of Lithuanian composers with that of their international contemporaries. Also, in playing more chamber music and more music of our current, 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Gabrielius Alekna \u2013 Piano Recital Tour 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cVisionaries and Trailblazers: From \u010ciurlionis to Messiaen\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CHICAGO, IL<\/strong><br \/>\nSunday, October 26 \u2013 2:00 PM<br \/>\nGanz Hall, Roosevelt University<br \/>\n430 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL<br \/>\nPresented by the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture<br \/>\nMore info:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/balzekasmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/balzekasmuseum.org&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761073679418000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pt_Aj-WQn5fbFvZYfuyfi\">balzekasmuseum.org<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Tickets:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/alekna.eventbrite.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/alekna.eventbrite.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761073679418000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0-A7wjh4zWyPNt2zUu681N\">https:\/\/alekna.eventbrite.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>NEW YORK, NY<\/strong><br \/>\nWednesday, October 29 \u2013 7:00\u20138:30 PM<br \/>\nMary Flagler Cary Hall, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music<br \/>\n450 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018<br \/>\n<strong>Tickets:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pianistalekna.eventbrite.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/pianistalekna.eventbrite.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761073679418000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0IXTlB4x_brP0pKjwpqhs4\">pianistalekna.eventbrite.com<\/a>\u00a0($35)<br \/>\nReserve or pay at door: Gintar\u0117 Bukauskas \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:zybuokle@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">zybuokle@gmail.com<\/a>\u00a0| 347-415-6379<br \/>\nPresented by the Lithuanian American Community, New York Chapter, and the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEATTLE, WA<\/strong><br \/>\nFriday, November 7 \u2013 7:30 PM<br \/>\nNickerson Studios, Seattle Pacific University<br \/>\n340 W. Nickerson Street, Seattle, WA<br \/>\n<strong>Admission free<\/strong><br \/>\nInfo:\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:dainiusv@spu.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dainiusv@spu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>PORTLAND, OR<\/strong><br \/>\nSunday, November 9 \u2013 5:00 PM<br \/>\nLincoln Recital Hall, Portland State University<br \/>\n1620 SW Park Ave, Room 75, Portland, OR 97201<br \/>\n<strong>Tickets:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/portlandstate.universitytickets.com\/w\/event.aspx?id=3324\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/portlandstate.universitytickets.com\/w\/event.aspx?id%3D3324&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761073679418000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mr-d7YlA9Bb8Rd_j7iz_l\">https:\/\/portlandstate.<wbr \/>universitytickets.com\/w\/event.<wbr \/>aspx?id=3324<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gabrielius Alekna brings the music of \u010ciurlionis, Bacevi\u010dius, and other modernist visionaries to U.S. stages this fall.\u00a0 This fall, pianist Gabrielius Alekna brings his recital \u201eVisionaries and Trailblazers: From \u010ciurlionis to Messiaen\u201d to audiences in Chicago, Portland, Seattle, and New York. The program honors the 150th anniversary of M.K. \u010ciurlionis, Lithuania\u2019s most celebrated artist, whose &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204,67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-culture","category-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7970"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7978,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7970\/revisions\/7978"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7969"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}