‘Thank you, Lithuania!’ initiative has brought together a record number of music groups

On Monday, the nationwide thank-you campaign ‘Thank you, Lithuania!’ has attracted a record attention and support from all the municipalities: 400 music groups from 55 municipalities have by now expressed their wish to participate in the campaign, and this list is not finite yet.

Music groups have very actively embraced the voluntary and unpaid initiative, which will show gratitude to all the people for their efforts to successfully overcome the first wave of COVID-19.

‘We hardly could have expected that this initiative would grow to such a large scale, where music sounds will fill the squares or parks of cities and towns or come from the top of administrative and cultural buildings of villages and smaller towns. This shows once again that together we can bring to life a beautiful idea and show our symbolic gratitude to each and every one and at the same time to continue staying focused and hopeful, so as to be ready to confront any other challenges lying ahead’, said Giedrius Surplys, Head of the Public Information Group.

On 1 June, 17.00 hrs, outdoor 15min-concerts will be held by music groups from all across the country, while taking due regard to the safety requirements. This symbolic campaign will express our gratitude to our medical staff, officers, social workers, volunteers, supermarket staff, pharmacists, businesspeople and all the other heroes who helped provide security and key services at the time of the crisis.

Alytus will hold a concert given by the Land Forces Orchestra of the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion in Angel of Freedom Square. Kaunas String Quartet will be performing in the courtyard of the State Philharmonic, Kaunas Big Band will be playing in the courtyard of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Kaunas Wind Orchestra ‘Ąžuolynas’ - in Vienybės Square, and Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra - outside the Kaunas City Municipality.

Klaipėda will hold two concerts: one on the southern bank of the Danė River, given by the combo group of the Klaipėda Jazz Orchestra, and the other - at the foot of the monument to Herkus Mantas, given by the Klaipėda Brass Quintet. The Palanga Orchestra will perform in the Rose Garden of the Amber Museum in Palanga, Panevėžys Musical Theatre Orchestra ‘Sounds’ will be performing at the foot of the monument to Alexander, while Pasvalys will enjoy a visual performance involving singing and dancing groups in Vytautas the Great Square. Vilnius, in its turn, is planning an impressive performance by the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gintaras Rinkevičius in Cathedral Square, the very heart of the capital.

You will find more information about concerts in your city or town at: https://koronastop.lrv.lt/aciu-lietuva-koncertai or on the Government Facebook. Events are free and open. Any music-loving people are invited to also join this initiative.

Please observe the still applicable lockdown restrictions and keep at a safe distance from each other in the events. May we remind you that the restriction of the maximum of 300 people in outdoor public events becomes effective as of 1 June.

The initiator of the campaign is the Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the partners are the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania and the Association of Lithuanian Cultural Centres.

The National Opera and Ballet Theatre Invites you to join the initiative:

 Dying Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns. Performed by the artists of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatres: Olesia Šaitanova (ballet soloist), Aušra Gedžiūtė (cello), Aistė Baliunytė-Dailidienė (harp).