Performers

 

Robertas Šervenikas – active, productive and authoritative conductor – is often praised for the intensive and diverse creative activities ranging from the first performances of large-scale symphonic compositions by Lithuanian composers to distinctive and mature interpretations of contemporary and classical repertoire. Robertas Šervenikas is numbered among the most talented and professional Lithuanian conductors of his generation. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was awarded the Lithuanian National Arts and Culture Prize in 2005.

 

After graduating from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in choral, opera and orchestral conducting, Šervenikas began working with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) in 1993 and was appointed its Second Conductor in 2000. He regularly performs with the Lithuanian, Šiauliai and Klaipėda chamber orchestras, and leads the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy Symphony Orchestra.

 

"… The way Robertas Šervenikas lightens the density of texture, punctuates transitions and electrifies the development till the last highly tense outbreak, reveals his truly international class. No less than the fact how the orchestra follows him with great attention, combines passion with professional precision <…> and in the literal sense is inundated with ideas under his authoritative leadership…"

Der Tagesspiegel, 2002

 

His ascent to the international renown began in 1997, when Mstislav Rostropovich invited him to conduct the Philharmonie der Nationen Orchestra at the Evian Festival in France and the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi next year. In 1998, Robertas Šervenikas led the LNSO on a very successful tour in Germany, performing at prestigious venues, such as Frankfurt's Alte Oper, Hamburg Musikhalle and Cologne Philharmonic. For this tour, apart from the traditional symphonic programme, the conductor has prepared the world premiere of Sonnengesang by Sofia Gubaidulina, dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich who performed solo cello. This was followed by successful concerts with the LNSO on tours in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, in the UK and in Spain, as well as at major music festivals in Germany (Rheingau, Ludwigsburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), Luxemburg (Echternach), France (Forbach, Reims, Hector Berlioz), Spain (Perelada, Madrid), Italy (Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli), Japan (Osaka) and Lithuania (Vilnius). He has also collaborated regularly with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, conducting its concerts with legendary Japanese pianist Ingrid Fujiko Hemming in Vilnius and Japan (2007) and appearing on tour at the Consonances festival in Sen Nazaire (france) with violinist Philippe Graffin (September 2009). He is invited to conduct the orchestras of St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Slovenian National opera, Russian State Symphony Orchestra and Israel Camerata, among others.

 

"... Conductor Robertas Šervenikas’ gesture is intense and well-thought-of. His interpretation created a vision lit by an ingenious and rich imagination, in which the architecture of sound combinations revealed the meaning of form that was both perfect and vivid…"

Luxemburger Wort, 2005 (after his appearance at the Echternach Festival)

 

Among the highlights of the recent seasons were the appearances of the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy Symphony Orchestra under Robertas Šervenikas at the Young.Euro.Classic Festival in Berlin (2002, 2003); the first performance of Onutė Narbutaitė’s monumental Tres Dei Matris Symphoniae at the Musikfesttage an der Oder in Frankfurt/Oder, with Robertas Šervenikas conducting the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester, Aidija Chamber Choir and the great choir of the Singakademie Frankfurt (2004); and the appearance with the LNSO, cellist Mischa Maisky and violinist Julian Rachlin at the National Concert Hall in Madrid. His stage partners have included a number of world-celebrated soloists, such as cellists Mstislav Rostropovich, David Geringas and Enrico Dindo; trumpeter Maurice André; trombonist Christian Lindberg; violinists Maxim Fedotov, Ilya Grubert, Raimondas Katilius and Sarah Chang; violists Yuri Bashmet and Wolfram Christ; pianists Arcadi Volodos, Mikhail Pletnev, Mūza Rubackytė, Petras Geniušas and Freddy Kempf. Denis Matsuyev has named him the best stage partner among the conductors of younger generation.

 

"…Our words of praise should go to the conductor Robertas Šervenikas, who has accomplished an immense work in studying the visionary scores and transposing them into many-faceted textural structures…"

Kauno diena, 2005

 

As an adventurous interpreter of new music repertoire, Robertas Šervenikas participates regularly (since 1997) in all of the Lithuania’s contemporary music festivals (Gaida, Jauna Muzika, Iš arti, Marių klavyrai) at which he has conducted performances and premieres of many compositions by Lithuanian composers, among whom were Onutė Narbutaitė, Vytautas Barkauskas, Bronius Kutavičius, Anatolijus Šenderovas, Vidmantas Bartulis, Algirdas Martinaitis, Feliksas Bajoras, Raminta Šerkšnytė and Mindaugas Urbaitis.

 

"...Robertas Šervenikas’ conducting pulsated with freshness and intensity, and was noted for a firm discipline…"

Frankfurter Neue Presse, 1998

 

In February 2008, Robertas Šervenikas was appointed Music Director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre where he has conducted the new productions of Anatalijus Šenderovas' ballet Desdemona (2005), Mussorgsky's opera Boris Godunov (2008), Verdi's La traviata, Ponchielli's I Lituani, Bizet's Carmen (2009), Jonas Tamulionis' opera for children The Tiny Lingonberry and Delibes' ballet Coppélia (2010). Since 2005 he has also been regularly invited to conduct performances at the Munich State Opera.