FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “ARINUSHKA”

The folklore ensemble “Arinushka” was founded in 1998 in Vilnius by a family of musicians — Irena and Nikolaj Zacharov. This ensemble combines scientific research of folklore with its professional performance, merging the traditions of folk music with contemporary musical culture.

Within this creative community, a unique vocal school was established, based on traditional folk singing techniques. The ensemble’s performers skillfully master various singing styles and folk music techniques, expertly blending them with modern musical performance. Their interpretation of folklore is a living and inseparable part of national culture and music, captivating the hearts of listeners and transcending territorial boundaries.

The ensemble’s repertoire includes a wide range of peasant songs, spiritual music, as well as programs dedicated to folk calendar holidays and folk romance songs. A special place in their repertoire is occupied by the singing culture of Lithuania’s Old Believers.

The ensemble performs with renowned conductors, musicians, and collectives from various genres, such as the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (artistic director Sergej Krylov), the Symphony Orchestra of the Tbilisi State Vano Sarajishvili Conservatory, the Čiurlionis Quartet, the K. Vardeli String Quartet (Georgia), the choir “Brevis,” Georgian ensembles “Bedinera,” “Shara,” and conductors such as Modestas Pitrėnas, Modestas Barkauskas, Robertas Šervenikas, Aleksey Utkin, Aleksey Vasilyev, Andrey Doinikov, Andrey Rein, Revaz Dzhavakhishvili, Levan Dzhagaev, as well as musicians Tomas Varnagiris, Arkadij Gotesman, Petras Vyšniauskas, Tomas Bieliauskas, Eimantas Belickas, Linas Rimša, Algirdas Klova, Giedrius Kuprevičius, Mindaugas Stumbras, Luka Mebonia, Giorgi Shanava, Arina Zacharova, Aleksandr Ten, Gytis Paškevičius, the percussion group “Hand voices,” and many others.

At the invitation of Lithuanian diplomatic missions, “Arinushka” has participated multiple times in cultural programs of national significance.

The ensemble’s work is highly valued for its ability to organically blend original music and folklore, utilizing its characteristic elements of improvisation. The leaders of the ensemble are also organizers of the annual international folklore festival “Pokrovo Varpai,” as well as contemporary world music projects by Lithuanian composers. These include L. Rimša’s “Old Faith” and “Women’s Songs,” A. Doinikov’s “Ethnosphere — A New Breath of Traditions,” G. Rimkus-Rimkevičius’ “Folk Rhapsody,” J. Jurkūnas’ “From This City,” A. Martinaitis’ “A Tale About Life,” A. Šenderovas’ “Dedication,” L. Vilkončius’ “Vartenas Mass,” works by L. Rimša, G. Venislovas, J. Jasinskis “It Was Such a Day,” L. Somov’s “Perpetuum,” J. Jasinskis’ “Orero,” M. Stumbras’ “Spell.” All these works were performed at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and renowned musicians, and were also presented abroad.

“Arinushka” participated in the Lithuanian Russian Drama Theater’s production of A. Latenas’ play “The Jester Balakirev” and is a laureate of international competitions and festivals. The ensemble was twice featured in television adaptations of Leo Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace”: in 2006 by the Italian TV channel RAI and in 2015 by the British TV channel BBC together with the American company “The Weinstein Company.” The Lithuanian National Television prepared several programs about the ensemble. In 2016, the ensemble became the winner of the TV contest “Duokim Garo.”

“Arinushka” has released several CDs. In 2013, the piece “Old Faith” by Linas Rimša, specially created for this ensemble, caught the attention of the British company ARC MUSIC, which released a CD of this work. In the same year, the CD “Russian Folk Romance” was included in the catalog of the famous Czech music library “STUDIO FONTANA,” featuring recordings of the most distinguished international musicians. In May 2013, the Belgian magazine “Le Canard Folk” traditionally selected the best CD of the month, which was awarded to “Arinushka” for their CD “Russian Folk Romance.”

The ensemble’s directors are Irena and Nikolaj Zacharov.

 

UKRAINIAN FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “SVIATO”

 

In 2008, a group of teachers and students from the Lithuanian Center of Folklore and Ethnography of National Minorities began studying Ukrainian traditions through master classes held annually at the summer creative school “Tradition” in Palanga. These classes were led by Professor Yevhen Yefremov from the P. Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine and the academy’s graduate, ensemble “Drevo” member, Tetyana Sopilka-Zachikevych, who currently resides in Poland. In 2010, the Ukrainian folklore ensemble “Sviato” was founded, and its artistic director became Arina Zacharova, a student of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. Right after their first performance, the ensemble was invited to participate in concerts, including those at the Ukrainian Embassy, as well as in international and national festivals. The ensemble’s repertoire includes calendar-ritual songs, lyrical songs, and recruit songs from various regions of Ukraine, as well as songs collected in the villages of Airėnai and Geisiškės in the Vilnius district, where families from the Ukrainian territory settled in 1860.

Leader — Arina Zacharova.

 

GEORGIANIAN FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “PESVEBI”

 

The ensemble “Pesvebi” (translated as “Roots”) was established in Vilnius in 2020. It was the result of a joint initiative between the Lithuanian Center of Folklore and Ethnography of National Minorities and the Vilnius Bronius Jonušas Music School. The ensemble is composed of young artists representing the Georgianian diaspora in the Republic of Lithuania. The ensemble is led by professional Georgian musician Luka Mebonia. Since 2016, Luka has participated in international festivals, performed solo in the World Music projects of the international festival “Pokrov bells,” and conducted international Georgianian folklore master classes in Lithuania and other countries.

Despite being a very young group, the ensemble has already become a laureate of two national competitions and the international festival-competition “Tradition.”

Leader — Luka Mebonia.

 

BELARUSIAN FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “JURAI”

 

The Belarusian folklore ensemble “Jurai,” like the Ukrainian ensemble “Sviato,” was founded by the teachers of the Lithuanian Center of Folklore and Ethnography of National Minorities in 2008. The ensemble initially consisted of professional musicians, and later young performers joined them. By that time, the Lithuanian Center of Folklore and Ethnography of National Minorities had already conducted numerous folklore expeditions in the border regions of Lithuania and Belarus. A rich archive was created, and the songs collected during these expeditions formed the basis of the ensemble’s repertoire. After their first performance at St. Catherine’s Church in Vilnius during the international folklore festival “Pokrovo Varpai,” the ensemble gained recognition from both audiences and folklore specialists. Since then, the ensemble has been regularly invited to participate in festivals, concerts, and celebrations.

 

POLISH FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE “TRAIKOTKA”

 

The Polish folklore ensemble “Traikotka” was founded by Irena Višnevskaja (now Rokicka), a graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and a professional folklore researcher. It is one of the few ensembles in Lithuania that authentically performs Polish singing traditions. Numerous expeditions to the regions of Lithuania with a high density of Polish population, as well as to the territory of Poland, allowed the Lithuanian Center of Folklore and Ethnography of National Minorities to enrich its archives with unique samples of traditional singing culture and to create the foundation of the ensemble’s repertoire.

The ensemble consists of two age groups — preschool children and young girls, who have formed the main core of the ensemble since its inception. The name “Traikotka” refers to a musical instrument — a rattle. The ensemble actively participates in city celebrations, concerts, and festivals. In 2013, “Traikotka” took part in the premiere of composer Gediminas Rimkus-Rimkevičius’ “Folk Rhapsody,” which was presented with great success at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.

Leader — Irena Rokicka.