Remarks at the concert of “Lumenaria Chorale” choir from Washington D.C.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
St. John’s Church, Vilnius
Thank you, Bishop Sabutis, for your kind introduction.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome the “Lumenaria Chorale” from Washington D.C. to Vilnius to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
I have no doubt that your performance will be both beautiful and uplifting.
While Lithuania prides itself on being a “singing country,” Washington, D.C. prides itself on being the Choral Capital of the U.S.; the Washington Post reported a few years ago that Washington, D.C. has more choirs per capita than any other city in the United States.
In fact, this choir is made up of members from many choirs, including the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, the Friday Morning Music Club, the Capitol Hill Choral, the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington, and the Washington Choral Arts Society, just to name a few. In fact, there are about 20 members of the Flotbeck Kantorei from Germany who have joined the Chorale for this performance. That so many people are willing to travel so far to come together to share their gift is a testament to their dedication to music.
It is not possible to perform this piece without an orchestra, and we are grateful to Maestro Robertas Šervenikas and the members of his orchestra for their collaboration for this concert.
This is also the Lithuanian Premiere of Paul Leavitt’s Requiem, which is appropriate as we near All Saints Day in a few weeks.
Paul is the director of the Chorale – it is a rare treat to have a composer and director on hand for a performance.
I am so happy to be able to share this performance with all of you. Enjoy!
