On July 25, the grand finale of the jubilee Midsummer Vilnius festival will feature a special concert by Andrius Mamontovas, accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas. This will not only be an extraordinary musical experience but also a symbolic farewell. It is likely to be the last large-scale performance of A. Mamontovas with an orchestra.
This time, Andrius and the orchestra will transport his audience into a unique musical world, blending the energy of a summer open-air concert with a symphonic depth. “Listening to Andrius’ music, you’ll want to dance and celebrate because there will be a lot of mischievous energy. It will be a delicate balance between symphonic orchestration and a festive atmosphere,” promises composer Jievaras Jasinskis, whose orchestral arrangements bring new colors to A. Mamontovas’ music.
The idea for this project was born precisely at Midsummer Vilnius seven years ago. In 2018, A. Mamontovas first performed his iconic album Šiaurės naktis. Pusė penkių with an orchestra—a long-held dream that needed a special occasion to come to life. The festival became the place where that dream turned into reality.
Later that year, the project reached its peak when recordings took place at the legendary Abbey Road studios in London. This was not only a significant artistic milestone but also the fulfillment of one of Andrius’ biggest lifelong dreams—to record his music in the same studio where many of the most influential albums in music history were created.
What followed was a hugely successful concert tour across Lithuania, filling arenas and once again proving the unique power of music combined with orchestral arrangements. Throughout this journey, Andrius was accompanied by maestro Modestas Pitrėnas, who had a deep connection to his music. He also conducted Andrius’ largest solo career concert in Vingis Park in 2023.
“Songs performed with an orchestra gain depth and new shades. They sound grand, soaring,” says Andrius. Meanwhile, maestro Pitrėnas recalls one of Mamontovas’ most iconic songs: “Laužo šviesa was, in a way, an anthem of an era—a mix of emotions, a psychedelic cocktail, a storm of youthful hormones… Those memories and those songs still move me more than any opera (laughs). The physiological experiences and vibrations felt in adolescence stay with you until the end of the journey on this earth.”
This summer, this unique creative cycle will reach its culmination—resonating one last time under the open sky, on the festival stage in the heart of Vilnius.
