Talks with Contemporary Creatives

Named as one of the leading dramatic mezzo-sopranos of today, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner has an international standing, performing in Bayreuth Festival, Edinburgh Festival, London Royal Opera House, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Komische Oper Berlin, Hamburg State Opera, etc. Being a member of the Frankfurt Opera since 2009 she gifted the world roles that don’t fade. Her debut in Salzburg festival was in 2010 and today she completes the triangle of R. Strauss Elektra, alongside Lithuanians Asmik Grigorian and Aušrinė Stundytė. In the interview she discusses Klytämnestra in Warlikowski’s directing, how she is dealing with quarantine, and what is most important for teaching the new generation of opera singers.

New York-based African American mezzo-contralto Bonita Hyman has performed on some of the world’s leading stages, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Dallas Opera, the Opéra Comique in Paris, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and the Leipzig Opera, and with a repertoire that includes Maria (Porgy and Bess), Erda (Der Ring des Nibelungen), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Azucena (Il trovatore), Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera), Bradamante (Alcina), and Geneviève (Pelléas et Mélisande). She first approached Richard Strauss’ Elektra and the role of the Erste Magd in 2013 with the acclaimed Patrice Chéreau production that went on to have eight revivals at La Scala, Milan (2014 and 2018), the Metropolitan Opera in New York (2016), the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki (2016), the Berlin State Opera (2016 and 2019) and the Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona (2016). This ninth staging is a new production by Krzysztof Warlikowski, presented in this year's 100th anniversary of the Salzburg Festival. In the interview, she compares the two stagings of Elektra, her collaboration with UNICEF this month, and dives deep into the different effects of female oppression that lay at the foundation of this opera.

French soprano Elsa Dreisig today is a beneficiary of the Liz Mohn Culture and Music Foundation at the Staatsoper Berlin’s International Opera Studio and a member of the Opéra-Théâtre de Clermont-Ferrand. In 2015 she won second prize in the Queen Sonja international music competition in Norway and since then singer can often be found performing at song recitals and concerts. Her Fiordiligi debut in Berlin was abruptly canceled due to the pandemic restrictions this spring. Eager to get back to work, Elsa Dreisig is offered to bring this role on stage in the 100th Salzburg festival this summer. W. A. Mozart‘s Cosi Fan Tutte staged by Christof Loy was an unexpected new project, uniting such singers as Marianne Crebassa, Andre Schuen, Bogdan Volkov, Lea Desandre and Johannes Martin Kränzle. In the interview soprano Elsa Dreising elaborates on the rehearsing process of Cosi Fan Tutte during the times of pandemic, her approach to Fiordiligi, and her take on opera singer‘s life today.

This year at the beginning of the Salzburg festival British conductor Ivor Bolton leads Mozarteumsorchester Salzburg performing a program of W. A. Mozart - Missa c-Moll, Adagio und Fuge für Streicher c-Moll, and Vesperae solennes de Confessore für Soli, gemischten Chor, Orchester und Orgel C-Dur. Ivor Bolton today is balancing his responsibilities as Chief Conductor of the Basel Sinfonieorchester, Artistic Director of the Teatro Real in Madrid, Chief Conductor of the Dresden Festival Orchestra and Conductor Laureat of the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg. In the UK he has been Music Director of English Touring Opera, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, and Chief Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His many recordings, apart from those with the Mozarteumorchester, include Monteverdi’s Poppea and Handel’s Xerces and Ariodante at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Shortly interviewed on the morning of festivals opening, conductor opens up about his 21 years of history in Salzburg festival and the situation this year that shook the classical music world as a whole.

Swedish/American composer Matthew Peterson is an independent, vital voice in the new opera world. He studied at Gotland School of Music Composition, Indiana University School of Music, and St. Olaf College. As his varied education, the music of this composer too defies categorization and reaches many different genres. His dynamic socially relevant true-crime opera Voir Dire (French - to speak the truth) was in the making for many years and went through a series of rejections and rewrites due to it’s a straightforward portray of today’s justice system, unequipped to account for the human element. The opera is based on real court cases, witnessed by lyricist Jason Zencka. Therefore Voir Dire drills into the real tragedies of ordinary people, presenting a bitter critique of the situation. Themes of drug abuse, fractured families, economic precarity, and sexual violence are openly explored on stage, causing mild and diverse reactions from the public. Therefore opera is raising major societal debates of the present day. After many years, in 2020, opera once again changes its skin as an audio recording of it is being made and released publicly. On this occasion, in an interview, opera’s composer Matthew Peterson discusses public reactions to the Voir Dire and challenges as well as creative opportunities while fitting opera into an audio recording format.

This year in the jubilee of Salzburg festival an unexpected staging of W. A. Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte stars Bogdan Volkov - a Ukrainian tenor, who after studies at the Glier Kiev Institute of Music and Tchaikovsky Kiev National Academy of Music, works in Moscow Bolshoi theater. Since 2013 he was a member of the Young Artists Program and later, since January 2016, he has been a principal soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre. Bogdan Volkov has toured with the theater to Austria, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong Arts Festival, and Lincoln Centre Festival. In the interview, tenor elaborates on his unexpected debut in Salzburg festival, the lifestyle of an opera singer, and the spirituality he finds on stage.

Simrit Kaur's music sound merges neo-psychedelic and world beat artistry in one phenomenal musical experience. Through the career of only seven years, her top-charting albums fuse her different musical influences. Growing up between Athens, Greece, and the American South, she is grounded in sacred musical traditions - Greek Orthodox Church and Kundalini Yoga. Her richly varied compositions are soundscapes that transcend genre, musical convention, and international borders. In the interview, Simrit discusses her Greek origins, tour fashion, and voice courses "The Supreme Sound".

French pianist Helene Papadopoulos stands out complex, restless, and highly sensitive approach to music. She seeks deep insight into playing the piano, always looking for new knowledge and sources of inspiration. Her unconventional musical projects, original concert programs, detailed and scrupulous interpretations of traditional and contemporary repertoire brings healing and change for her listeners. The musician's life companion - the music of J. S. Bach - inspires her to cooperate with other contemporary composers in order to develop new musical languages based on the great baroque composer. In the interview, pianist discusses the meaning music brings to her everyday life, helping with stress this year has brought on everybody.

The portrait CD "Jusqu’à l’aurore" comes from Thomas Wally - contemporary Austrian composer, violinist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Opera Orchestra, and lecturer in the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. A portrait recording was one of his long term professional goals - he views it almost as a business card of a composer, which allows us to take a listen and get to know him as well as his sound and compositional work. The recording celebrates a decade of T. Wally's musical creativity and a long close collaboration with the Mondrian ensemble, with whom the composer shared the trust to record his pieces. Musician elaborates on the concept of his CD, retrospective of his compositions, and a long story of making his dream come into fruition.

From the mother's side Lithuanian and from the father's side Latvian pianist Iveta Calite is known as a devoted chamber musician. She had finished her chamber music studies in Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Her performances took place in such festivals as Stockholm Piano Festival, Aurora Music Festival, “Young Latvian chamber musicians-Saulkrasti” and “Svensk musikvår”. Right after quarantine at the end of summer, she is planning a trip to Lithuania to perform an all Ravel program in Paliesius Estate. In the interview, the pianist speaks on her inner calmness of the quarantine, memories from studies, and her fascination with Ravel‘s music.

Russian pianist Alexander Paley, who calls Lithuania his second home, took his vocation seriously from a young age. Having played the piano since the age of six, he won a national music competition in Moldova just a decade later. After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory (in the classes of Bella Davidovich and Vera Gornostayeva), he can be proud of his first prize at the Leipzig International Bach Competition (1884), the Bosendorfer Prize (1986) and the Grand Prix Young Artist Debut (New York, 1988). While concerting, he has shuffled the world, sharing the stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Aspen Festival Orchestra, and more. The interviewed musician remembers his university days, discusses quarantine, and declares his love for Lithuania.

Domenico Nordio's career began after his first recital at the age of ten, and at the age of sixteen he won the international Viotti competition in Verchel. Along with various other achievements in international competitions was the European Grand Prix in 1988, when D. Nordio became the first and only Italian to win this award. Now known as the Venetian Wunderkind, the violinist performs in the world's most important halls, such as La Scala in Milan, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Barbican Center in London, and collaborates with London, Paris, Rome, Switzerland, and other symphony orchestras. D. Nordio, who is returning to Lithuania, talked about his connection with Italian composers, the ups and downs of classical music, and imperfect performance.

Mama Jazz, the Vilnius' most famous jazz festival, ended the weekend with the American trio The Bad Plus - Dave King, Reid Anderson, and Orrin Evans. This ensemble combines the simplicity of popular music with snobbish jazz virtuosity. The full harmony of the three instruments (piano, double bass, and percussion) is revealed not only in the experimental and original works of the trio, but also in the remixes of bands such as Radiohead, Nirvana or Tears For Fears. A year and a half ago, the ensemble underwent major changes when a longtime trio pianist was replaced by Orrin Evans. We talk to the new pianist of the Bad Plus about his passion for music, dedication to the ensemble, and daily routine.

The Austrian-Czech modern music composer, actor, playwright and former dancer Šimon Voseček (born 1978) says he has spent most of his life on the stage. His creation is characterized by a narrative of history, dramaturgy, experimentalism and emotional impact. Today he is one of the most prominent contemporary opera creators in Austria. Ona Jarmalavičiūtė interviewed the composer about musical life today and his life and creative work.

Lietuvos kompozitorius ir vizualiųjų menu kūrėjas Ignas Krunglevičius (g. 1979) šiuo metu gyvena Osle. Kompozitorius domisi normalumo ir anomalijos, normos ir pažeidimo, tapatinimosi ir atstūmimo, impulsyvaus poelgio ir etinio vertinimo, bausmės ir nusikaltimo dialektika. Šios dialektikos subtilybes jis perteikia kompozicinėmis ir siužetinėmis priemonėmis konstruojama mechanika. I. Krunglevičiaus kūryba išsiskiria simboliškumu, redukuotomis muzikos formomis, įtaigiu ritmu, konceptualiu muzikinės kompozicijos funkcionalumu, muzikaliai konstruojamu draminiu polilogu, iliustratyvia kūrinių dinamika ir įtampos atmosfera. Jis aktyviai kuria įsitraukdamas į šiuolaikinio meno projektus bei parodas. Šiame interviu kompozitorius pasakoja apie savo kompozicinio proceso sandarą ir subtilybes.

Thomas Wally (b. 1981), an Austrian composer, violinist, and lecturer living in Vienna, has dedicated his life to music from a very young age. Today he can enjoy a diverse and successful career in music. His works are internationally recognized and performed in many world scenes. As a successful violinist, Wally works for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera’s Orchestra, and plays in the Lux string quartet. He also teaches at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Many describe him as a composer of virtuoso and technically difficult music. In his work, T. Wally often strives to maintain a balance between a strictly constructed score and an organically pleasing sound. About music in his life and different creator and artist amplitudes, T. Wally talks to musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė.

Tore Tom Denys (born Roeselare, Belgium, 1973) is a singer (tenor), co-founder of the Renaissance ensemble Cinquecento, founder of the Baroque music ensemble Vivante and an incredibly creative personality, testing his strengths in such creative spheres as conducting, video art, acting and producing. His career started after he obtained a master's degree in trumpet playing, only then discovering that singing was his true path. He worked with Vienna's State Opera choir and was a performer at the Salzburg Festival for six years. This summer, he returned to the festival, now as a soloist, to perform his Renaissance music repertoire. Before this, I met with the singer to talk about his career path, work routines, and creative aspirations.

Skirtinguose kūrybos sluoksniuose veikiantis kompozitorius Jonas Jurkūnas kuria tiek akademinę, tiek populiariąją, tiek taikomąją muziką teatrui bei kinui. Kompoziciją jis studijavo Lietuvos muzikos ir teatro akademijoje Vytauto Barkausko klasėje, magistro studijas tęsė pas Rimantą Janeliauską. Vėliau elektroakustinės ir instrumentinės kompozicijos studijas gilino Lijono nacionalinėje muzikos ir šokio konservatorijoje. Kompozitoriaus muzika artima minimalizmui ir naujojo tonalumo estetikai. Jis dažnai dirba su paprastomis garsinėmis medžiagomis, pulsuojančiais ritmais, nuolat ieško naujų arba pamirštų tembrų. Šias strategijas autorius dažnai derina su eksperimentine ar klubine elektronika, ambient stilistika, populiariosios, džiazo ar romantizmo muzikos elementais. Pokalbyje Jonas Jurkūnas, pasitelkdamas dailės metaforas, pasakoja apie savo kompozicinio proceso sandarą ir kūrybos prasmę jo kasdienybei.

Kompozitorius ir biologas Albertas Navickas – savo įvairiapusiškumu unikali asmenybė Lietuvos šiuolaikinės muzikos scenoje. Po kompozicijos ir biochemijos studijų Lietuvoje jis išvyko mokytis į Paryžių, kur tęsė stiliaus ir skambesio ieškojimus. Pasak kompozitoriaus, būtent subtili idėjinė struktūra lemia kūrybinį jo muzikos pagrindą. Niuansuota, melancholijos persmelkta, Alberto Navicko kūryba pasižymi perregimomis struktūromis ir subtiliais dinaminiais niuansais. Kalbėdamas apie kūrybos procesą, kompozitorius pasakoja apie tvarkos pojūtį, laiko planavimo subtilybes ir socialinę meno reikšmę.

Vitališka, sunkiai nuspėjama, dinamiška muzikos jėga, generuojanti aktyvią emociją – būtent tokia yra vaizduojama jaunosios lietuvių kompozitorės Rūtos Vitkauskaitės kūryba. Nors išreikšta akademinės muzikos kalba, jos muzika yra paremta intuicija ir archetipinio atspalvio garsovaizdžiais. Joje gausu įvairių kultūrų ar eksperimentinės muzikos pėdsakų. Kompozicijos muzikė mokėsi Lietuvoje, o vėliau – Jeruzalėje ir Didžiojoje Britanijoje. Šiandieną ji yra labiausiai žinoma dėl kūrybiniu bendradarbiavimu paremtų kūrinių ir šiuolaikinės operos projektų. Interviu R. Vitkauskaitė kalba apie idealų muzikos komponavimo procesą, jo išsidėliojimą laike ir mėginimus garsu išreikšti savo mintis.

Orkestro „Trimitas“ vadovas, kompozitorius, humanitarinių mokslų daktaras Antanas Kučinskas (g. 1968) savo kūriniuose nesislepia už komplikuotų struktūrų ar mokslingų komentarų - kaip pagrindinius savo komponavimo principus jis nurodo perkūrimo, perdirbimo tradicijas, "dekonstrukciją-rekonstrukciją" ir "kilpų muziką". Taigi, Antano Kučinsko kūryba imponuoja stilistine įvairove, čia susipina instrumentinio teatro ir "naujojo paprastumo" tendencijos. 1995 m. kompozitorius už kūrinį fleitai ir fonogramai "Užburtoji fleita" gavo Lietuvos kompozitorių sąjungos Muzikos fondo konkurso IV premiją, 2008 m. jo opera vaikams "Bulvinė pasaka" pelnė "Auksinį kryžių" kaip geriausias darbas teatro vaikams srityje. Muzikologė Ona Jarmalavičiūtė kalbina A. Kučinską apie jo kūrybinio proceso struktūrą ir kūrybinio darbo prasmę.

Juliaus Juzeliūno klasę Lietuvos muzikos ir teatro akademijoje baigusi kompozitorė Loreta (g. 1965) savo kūryboje išgyveno daug skirtingų laikotarpių – nuo konstruktyvaus serializmo ir “skambančios matematikos” iki menine intuicija paremtų opusų. Tačiau išliko jos pagarba dėstytojo autoritetui ir pagrindinės kūrybinės vertybės – lietuviškumas bei gyvenimo teigimas. Apie savo kūrybą lemiančius niuansus ir kasdieninius kompozitoriaus džiaugsmus bei iššūkius Loreta Narvilaitė kalbasi su muzikologe Ona Jarmalavičiūte.

Vienas ryškiausių ir produktyviausių lietuvių kompozitorių Vykintas Baltakas dar Nepriklausomybės pradžioje išvyko studijuoti į užsienį ir integravosi į tarptautines šiuolaikinės muzikos terpes. Jo kūriniai išsiskiria gerai apmąstyta idėja bei estetiniais ieškojimais, muzikinės medžiagos manipuliacijomis. Iš V. Baltako siekio pasipriešinti tradiciniams stereotipams buvo suformuota nauja kompozitoriaus muzikinė kalba, pasižyminti modernumu ir virtuoziškumu. Šiame interviu kompozitorius dalinasi savo kompozicinio proceso struktūra ir reikšme jo kūrybai.

Die deutsche Mezzosopranistin Bettina Ranch ist seit 2016 Ensemblemitglied am Aalto Musiktheater Essen. Mit Auftrittsmöglichkeiten an der Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden, der Deutschen Oper Berlin, der Komischen Oper Berlin und den Salzburger Festspielen sie behauptet, nichts mehr zu wünschen, weil so viel bereits Realität geworden ist. Die in Berlin lebende Sängerin träumte von der Karriere der Sängerin seit ihrer Kindheit, studierte jedoch zunächst Violine, bevor sie zu dem privaten Gesangsstudium wechselte, das sie zu ihrem heutigen Standort führte - einer gefragten, international tätigen Opernsolistin. Sie hatte mit Orchestern wie den Hamburger Philharmonikern, der Stuttgarter Bachakademie, der Kammerakademie Potsdam, den Dresdner Philharmonikern usw. zusammengearbeitet. Ihr breites Opernrepertoire wie u.a. Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare/Händel), Sesto (Titus/Mozart), Dorabella (Così/Mozart), Adalgisa (Norma/Bellini), Fricka (Walküre/Wagner) und Carmen (Carmen/Bizet). Die Musikwissenschaftlerin Ona Jarmalavičiūtė hat mit der Solistin ein Interview über ihre beruflichen Wendungen, die Lehren aus dem Leben der Lehrer und die täglichen Kämpfe und Freuden des Lebens der Opernsängerin geführt.

Lietuvių kompozitoriaus Mykolo Natalevičiaus veiklos sfera yra plati ir įvairialypė. Be muzikos komponavimo, grojimo fortepijonu, dirigavimo ir dainavimo, šiuo metu jis taip pat yra Lietuvos muzikos ir teatro akademijos dėstytojas bei Lietuvos kompozitorių sąjungos pirmininkas. Įvairialypiu būtų galima pavadinti ir jo kūrybinį gyvenimą. M. Natalevičius išbandė daugybę muzikos komponavimo būdų ir kelių, ieškodamas sau tinkamų kūrybos priemonių. Dėl to dažnu atveju klausantis jo muzikos nežinai ko tikėtis; modernumą čia keičia sentimentalumas, racionalumą - improvizacija. Jam nesvetimas teorinis, analitinis žvilgsnis į muziką ir jos rašymą. Galbūt todėl jo įžvalgos apie kūrybiškumą – tokios išsamios ir tikslios. Apie kūrybinio proceso struktūrą ir prasmę su kompozitoriumi kalbėjosi muzikologė Ona Jarmalavičiūtė.

Julius Aglinskas – jaunosios kartos lietuvių kompozitorius, prodiuseris ir garso režisierius, kuris atsako į savo muziką ieško savyje. Jo kūryba yra persmelkta laisvės ir individuališkumo, paremta estetine melancholijos, nostalgijos išraiška. Ilgas ir lėtas jo kompozicinis procesas, susidedantis iš mąstymo ir klausymo, krypsta link suvokimo, kas pačiam kūrėjui yra artima garse, koks skambesys jam reiškia daugiausiai. Muzikologė Ona Jarmalavičiūtė kalbina kompozitorių apie jo kūrybos suvokimą ir kasdienę muzikos komponavimo praktiką.

The personality of this conversation - the world-famous pianist Kirill Gerstein - performed the composition "In Seven Days" by the British composer and conductor Thomas Ades at the closing concert of the Gaida Contemporary Music Festival. The Russian-born American pianist is highly regarded for his outstanding piano artistry. In the year 2001, the musician's career reached other heights with his first prize at the famous Rubinstein Piano Competition. Other notable achievements include the Laureate in Gilmore Artist Award in 2010, the prestigious ECHO Klassik Prize. In the interview, K. Gerstein talks about his daily life as a pianist, his relationship with composer T. Ades and the composition "In Seven Days" performed at the concert.

An internationally respected German countertenor Benno Schachtner values music for what it is. He is being praised for his musical intelligence, emotional depth, and a warm soothing timbre. The singer takes pleasure in the unpredictable art that is created in the spark of the moment, following the atmosphere of the performance. His passion project, currently occupying all of his time and attention is the festival Diademus, counting its third year. The musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė conducts an interview with a singer about the beginning of the festival, career struggles and good guys, that correlates with the countertenor's voice.

Today Bavarian vocalist David Steffens is enjoying his busy summer in Salzburg – a place where he also spent his student years. This time he is a part of Salzburg Festival, performing in three productions total and therefore visiting the stage of the Salzburg Festspiele almost daily. David Steffens started performing in this festival at the year 2012 when he was selected to participate in the Young Singers Project, but his main career path lays in the opera ensembles in Germany – Stadttheater Klagenfurt and Württembergisches Staatstheater Stuttgart. He had also performed in such opera stages, as Teatro Real Madrid, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Volksoper Vienna, the Opéra national de Lyon, etc. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė conducts an interview with the singer in which David Steffens shares his thoughts on this years Salzburg festival, handling three roles at the same time and the process of bringing the music to life.

Musicologist Christian Heindl personally knows lots of Austrian composers, has become an expert of contemporary music of Vienna as a concert organizer and independent journalist published in various journals (ÖMZ, Wiener Zeitung, Opernwelt, nmz, das mica und die Pressburger Zeitung). He is also an author of radio shows in ORF (Pasticcio, Opernkonzert, Aus der Welt der Oper, Studio Neuer Musik, Zeit-Ton, Alles über Musik, Aus dem Konzertsaal) and a lecturer. Ona Jarmalavičiūtė interviewed this expert about the music of the past and the present in Austria.

Paul Hertel (b. 1953) is named as an Austrian composer, music maker, and conductor. His works are performed in a lot of countries, and at such festivals as "Aspekte Salzburg", "Styrian Autumn" “Huddersfield”, “Festival de Ville d’Avray”, "Austria Today" etc. For a long time, Hertel worked as a theater composer and music director at different stages like Vorarlberger Landestheater in Bregenz, Vienna, Graz, Schwäbisch Hall, etc. And as a composer of Film Music and operas, for instance, Deutsche Oper, Berlin. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talked about the journey of life, the subtleties of the music composing process and the part of the musician in Vienna.

World-class pianist Polina Osetinskaya is one of the four prodigy-called musicians from the Soviet Union, standing alongside violinists Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin, as well as pianist Evgeny Kissin. She is glad to leave the past of the childhood fame behind her and is proud to make a transformation to worlds most respected concerting pianists, which has been a long and uneasy journey for her. The pianist today is known for her unusual repertoire, including works by the contemporary post-avant-garde composer as well as traditional, classical works. After performing at the Salzburg Festival this week Polina Osetinskaya will appear at Carnegie Hall next season with Maxim Vengerov and for her project “An Unknown Friend”. Ona Jarmalavičiūtė, a musicologist, has conducted an interview with a performer about her performance style, struggles of youth her and opinion about the music business of today.

Canadian tenor Josh Lovell is a perspective young vocalist, well known in Ottawa, Chicago and now Vienna, where his professional journey continues. Stanford Olsen. Previously, he was a student of Benjamin Butterfield at the University of Victoria. Josh Lovel is a winner at the 52nd Annual International Vocal Competition, Dallas Opera competition and was a 2017 semi-finalist with the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. His repertoire consists of such roles as Trojan in Idomeneo, Odoardo in Ariodante, Le Doyen de la Faculté in Cendrillon, The Emperor Altoum in Turandot, Orpheo in Orphée et Eurydice, Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, etc. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė has conducted an interview with a singer on such topics as antique mythology, the impact of the opera to the society and the struggles with funding.

A soloist since childhood, Joel Allison debut was at the age of twelve, as the treble soloist in Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphony. Today this promising Canadian vocalist of the new generation has been praised for the beautiful, rich, ringing tone of his bass-baritone voice. J. Allison is working as a recitalist, soloing with all of the prominent Canadian orchestras and as an opera singer, with a repertoire of such roles as “Basilio” in Il Barbiere di Siviglia; “Prince Gremin” in Eugene Onegin; “Antonio” in Le Nozze di Figaro and “Dancairo” in Carmen. He was praised for his operatic repertoire performance as having “a beautiful instrument precise in its intonation and articulation, serene and aristocratic”. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė had conducted an interview with Joel Allison about his career path, daily rituals and the situation of opera in his home country Canada.

The Czech-born vocalist Tomaš Kral has a virtuoso baritone with a warm timbre of that he chooses to remind the modern man of the charm of early music, the purity of the spirit and the peace he feels. The singer's career was full of upscale triumph – studies with Professor Adriana Hlsova, participation in ensembles such as Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum and Musica Florea, concerts in Prague Spring, Dresdner Festspiele, and Festival de La Chaise-Dieu festivals. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė interviewed the vocalist about the music scene in the Czech Republic, his love for early music and the interpretative nuances of baroque music.

About grammar and logic of music Johannes Kretz (b. 1968) is an Austrian composer, who has long been associated with the practice of algorithmic composition, original view on harmony and synthesis of unique sounds. Earlier gaining his experience from the IRCAM Research Center, now composer is working and living in Vienna. In 2004 he was awarded the Austrian State Prize for his extraordinary creative work. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talked with this composer about the formulation of music in a search for logical roots of art.

The paradoxes of art and life Clemens Gadenstätter (born 1966) is an Austrian composer nowadays teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. After studying the art of composing with such contemporary music icons as Helmut Lachenmann (b. 1935) and Erich Urbanner (b. 1936), the composer is extremely interested in the semiotics of music. This leads to a growing desire to create true contemporary music, not its simulacra, which is now rare. Ona Jarmalavičiūtė, a musicologist, talks about the roots of creativity and a wish to create a musical experience without labels.

Paul Hertel (b. 1953) is named as an Austrian composer, music maker, and conductor. His works are performed in a lot of countries, and at such festivals as "Aspekte Salzburg", "Styrian Autumn" “Huddersfield”, “Festival de Ville d’Avray”, "Austria Today" etc. For a long time, Hertel worked as a theater composer and music director at different stages like Vorarlberger Landestheater in Bregenz, Vienna, Graz, Schwäbisch Hall, etc. And as a composer of Film Music and operas, for instance, Deutsche Oper, Berlin. Musicologist Ona Jarmalavičiūtė talked about the journey of life, the subtleties of the music composing process and the part of the musician in Vienna.

Karlheinz Essl Jr. (b.1960) as an artist is wearing a lot of different masks at once. Some see him as a composer, others as an improviser, as well as sound artist, performer or teacher. His interest in music varies from double bass studies and creation of instrumental, generative, algorithmic or electronic contemporary music as well as interactive sound installations. In his creative work, K. Essl combines his passion for work with computers and serial music composing techniques being the author of music software. He also collaborates with artists from other artistic fields - K. Essl creates music for paintings, life modern art installations, dance, and poetry. Ona Jarmalavičiūtė, a musicologist, held an interview with K. Essl and talked about the struggle of juggling multiple professional paths and the turning points in his career that made him the artist he is today.