Farewell.

The rock opera “Jūratė and Kastytis” bids farewell to its golden cast with its only performance in Kaunas at the Zalgirio Arena on March 30.

For the last time on stage in the role of Jūratė – AISTĖ SMILGEVIČIŪTĖ, Kastytis – MARIJONAS MIKUTAVIČIUS, Kopų senio – KOSTAS SMORIGINAS!

The last performance of the golden cast will take place accompanied by the Kaunas big band and the choir “Vilnius Voices”, led by Kristina Žaldokaitė. All works of the rock opera have been specially arranged for the orchestra. The author of the arrangements and the conductor of the performance – Jievaras Jasinskis.

We will also see on stage: Karinė Krysko (Kastytis’ mother), Jeronimė Milių (Neptūnas), Tadas Juodsnukė (Perkūnas) and the Gytis Ivanauskas Dance Theatre Dance Company.

The rock opera created by composer Rokas Radzevičius and libretto author Rimvydas Stankevičius more than twenty years ago has earned endless love and respect from the audience since its first performance in Klaipėda, at the Sea Festival. The “Love Duet” by Jūratė and Kastytis, performed by Marijonas and Aistė, has become one of the most beautiful Lithuanian songs of all time.

If Aistė Smilgevičiūtė sang Jūratė from the very first performance, then Marijonas Mikutavičius, who appeared in the first year of its existence, later left the “Jūratė and Kastytis” troupe. He agreed to return to the legendary rock opera stage in 2022. The news was accompanied by euphoria from the audience. However, the singer himself always indirectly hinted that his return was like the beginning of a farewell.

“Now that time has come, but I am glad that I allowed myself to be persuaded to return. I was convinced: people are happy when they watch this work. “And we have preserved within ourselves that sacred fire of feeling that touches the soul of the viewer. I do not know when and in what composition this rock opera will be revived. I do not know, to be honest, whether it will be revived at all… However, I secretly hope that such a great work will live forever and will excite new generations of viewers,” said Marijonas, who, in the short history of his return, managed to appear with the rock opera not only on the Lithuanian but also on the US stage.

Aistė Smilgevičiūtė has always emphasized how important and unique the role of Jūratė is to her. After all, it could not be otherwise: the work was written especially for her by her husband Rokas Radzevičius. “Jūratė was very much in love from the very beginning and has remained so to this day. The fact that we will perform as a duet with Marijonas for the last time will remain a very precious memory for me. You could say that the circle of time has closed: we started together, and we will finish together. Isn’t that symbolic and beautiful? The beginning and the end merge into one,” says Aistė.

The enormous, even phenomenal, success of the rock opera “Jūratė and Kastytis” lies not only in its performance. The work is written with great talent: the music of Rokas Radzevičius fits very organically with the excellent texts of the libretto author Rimvydas Stankevičius.

The very idea of a rock opera, which came to Rokas Radzevičius’s mind more than twenty years ago, was as if programmed for success. The creator decided not to limit himself to the well-known legend about the fisherman Kastytis and the shattered amber palace of Jūratė.

His rock opera tells us a continuation of the well-known story about the fisherman Kastytis and the goddess Jūratė. Kastytis kneels on the seashore, mourning his beloved Jūratė, who was beheaded by Perkūnas. Suddenly she comes to life and the story “after the story” begins… Jūratė and Kastytis experience serious trials, the wrath of the gods and the elements, but true love conquers all.

“Jūratė and Kastytis” is a work imbued with national and ethnic motifs. The scenography created by Marijus Jacovskis is full of pagan idols and reflections of the everyday life of coastal fishermen. Ethnic motifs also became an inspiration for clothing designer Liuka Songailaitė. The director of the performance is Kostas Smoriginas, the choreographer is Gytis Ivanauskas. The sound director is Tomas Ždanovičius. Lighting designer – Darius Malinauskas.