Founded in 1960 by Prof. Saulius Sondeckis (Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, 1960–2004) the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is recognised as one of the finest and most internationally acclaimed Lithuanian orchestras. The LCO was the first among Lithuanian orchestras to make its debut in the West at the Echternach Festival in Luxembourg in 1976, which embarked them on an international career and new possibilities.

 

"…The Orchestra has had its ups and downs in recent years, but today it is on an up close to stratospheric! Already in the first half of the concert there was a sparkle in the orchestra, but in the second half they were really tempestuous. The final movement of a piece was totally amazing, from a slow start reaching a blistering pace, with dynamics like I have rarely heard from this orchestra, and, it seemed, having enormous fun with it…"

Music and Life – Everywhere!, 2006

 

The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra has toured almost every European country, North and South Americas, Japan, Egypt, and the Republic of South Africa. The audiences have applauded the LCO at the Berlin Philharmonic, Musikverein in Vienna, Royal Festival in London, Santa Cecilia in Rome, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Pleyel Hall in Paris, Gewandhaus in Leipzig and at many other famous concert halls in Europe. They have repeatedly appeared with Mstislav Rostropovitch, Yuri Bashmet, Gidon Kremer, Vladimir Spivakov, Tatyana Grindenko, Igor Oistrakh, Yevgeny Kissin, David Geringas and Yehudi Menuhin, among many others.

 

"... With its rendering of the light and vigorous opus by Mozart, the orchestra once again presented itself for the audience as an orchestra well versed in the secrets of the highest mastery, able to create stylish and lively interpretations. <…> The interpretation of the symphony is worthy of superlatives only! Playing without a conductor, the orchestra was as precise as a perfectly geared mechanism. Yet, a mechanism is inanimate, while the performance of the orchestra’s musicians was noted for fresh breathing, tasteful articulation, and fascinated us with filigree intonations, flexible dynamics and meaningful phrasing..."

7 meno dienos, 2006

 

During almost five decades of its illustrious career, the LCO has collaborated closely with many famous soloists, conductors and choirs in numerous performances and on more than 100 recordings of diverse repertoire, with a special affinity for the works of Bach and Mozart. The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra has also given a number of world premieres of works by many celebrated composers, including Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks, who have dedicated their works to the Orchestra.

 

"... Thanks to the performers’ clear articulation, each sound in Joseph Haydn’s roulades became as if crystalline, clear and transparent, with delicate dynamic lining. <...> The orchestra’s ensemble quality and excellent teamwork created an impression of one performer, one body consisting of a multitude of individual cells, playing on stage…"

Muzikos barai, 2005

 

In December 2008, distinguished violinist Sergej Krylov has been appointed the Orchestra's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

 

 

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS

 

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor – SERGEJ KRYLOV

Director – EGIDIJUS MIKŠYS

 

1st violins

Eugenijus Urbonas (principal violin)

Džeraldas Bidva

Žilvinas Malikėnas

Algirdas Paukštė

Vilja Breivienė

Vida Tankevičienė

Silvija Maceikaitė

Irma Bakševičienė

 

2nd violins

Dalia Suraučiūtė-Gotoveckienė

Vilija Pranskienė

Vaida Paukštienė

Kristijonas Venslovas

Algirdas Juozas Dekšnys

 

Violas

Algimantas Nemanis

Ramūnas Zakaras

Žilvinas Švelnys

Jurgis Juozapaitis

 

Cellos

Dainius Palšauskas

Gediminas Derus

Algirdas Straižys

Vytautas Galvydis

 

Double basses

Vytautas Jacunskas

Vilimantas Martinėnas

 

Oboes

Vidutis Lubauskas

Eugenijus Paškevičius

 

Horns

Steponas Einikis

Vytautas Štrapenskas