Conductor of Padua University Choirs visits Vilnius University

On 24-27 April, the choirs of Vilnius University (VU) Culture Centre, under the direction of Rasa Gelgotienė, welcomed a guest from the University of Padua - choir conductor Ignacio Vazzoler. He came as part of a cultural programme funded by the Arqus Innovation Fund.

"Meeting the Italian conductor was very interesting for our choir members. He gave masterclasses to the Virgo and Gaudeamus choirs. The conductor worked with the choirs on Giuseppe Verdi's Laude alla Vergine Maria, which the choirs will perform at the season's closing concert at the VU St. The concert will take place at St. John's Church on 18 May.

Ignacio Vazzoler is a master of the Italian bel canto vocal, and he gave impressive voice training exercises to both choirs. "I think that this visit of our colleague from Padua will definitely have a continuation - we are already coordinating with him a trip of the Virgo Choir to the University of Padua, where together with the choir and the orchestra of this university we will sing G.B. Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater"," says Rasa Gelgotienė, the director of the VU Choirs.

"I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with VU students, it was interesting to see how my colleagues work with the choirs and orchestra. I think that the opportunity given by the Arqus Alliance to share knowledge and gain new experiences is very useful and important", says conductor I. Vazzoler.

In addition to the masterclasses, the choir conductor also met with Ginte Jokubaitiene, the director of the VU Culture Centre, Vidas Pinkevičius, the director of the Unda Maris organ studio, and listened to the rehearsal of the VU chamber orchestra (Modestas Jankūnas). The guest was impressed by the music of St. The St. John's Church, its organ, the Great Hall.