Gala Stars

A new musical project, “Gala Stars”: theatre, classical music and popular song come together on one stage. This autumn, music and theatre fans in Lithuania will have the opportunity to experience the new, celebratory project “Gala Stars”, bringing together three different worlds of performance. Singer and actress Oneida Kunsunga, singer Vaida Genytė and singer Egidijus Sipavičius, known as a gentleman of the stage, will present an elegant programme alongside a professional string quartet, pianist Giedrius Nak and guitarist Kostas Balčiūnas. Classical music, melodies from the golden age of Lithuanian popular song and theatrical aesthetics will intertwine in the programme.

The concert will feature songs performed by actors: Kosto Smorigino’s “Paukščiai” and Sauliaus Mykolaičio’s “Matrica”; works from Lithuanian musicals, including “Velnio nuotaka” and “Meilė ir mirtis Veronoje”; and music from classic films such as “Gladiatorius” and “Didysis šou meistras”. Lithuanian popular songs will also be featured: “Riešutų žydėjimas”, “Laukų gėlė” and “Vasara, vasara”. A somewhat unexpected addition will be the Italian popular song “Bella Ciao”, as well as Egidijus Sipavičius’s own song “Diskoteka” in a string arrangement, performed with Vaida Genytė and Oneida Kunsunga.

The creators of “Gala Stars” promise an evening in which atmosphere will matter as much as the music. New arrangements are being created especially for the project, along with refined, understated stage design and distinctive costumes. Together, these will let the audience immerse themselves in a festive musical journey filled with elegance.

“We wanted to create a concert where different genres of music and theatre would meet, united by an uplifting, celebratory emotion. The evening is structured so that each performance is an experience in its own right, while the event as a whole is like one continuous, elegant story,” says Oneida Kunsunga.

The evening’s programme will give a fresh sound to classical arias and familiar pop melodies, enriched with string arrangements. It is shaped like a musical story, moving from tender, nostalgic moments to striking climaxes. Vaida Genytė says the project’s distinctive quality lies in bringing different performers together. “All three of us are very different, so unexpected musical dialogues emerge on stage. I think that’s what makes this programme special: each of us brings our own colour, yet together we create one shared story,” the performer says.

The professional musicians joining the performers will do much more than accompany them. The musical textures created by the string quartet will add new colours to every piece, while the piano and guitar will bring even more dynamics and emotion to the programme. “I have always enjoyed seeking unexpected musical combinations. In this programme, classical sound will meet popular song and elements of theatre, so I believe the audience can look forward to a truly distinctive evening,” says Egidijus Sipavičius.