700 Sounds of Celebration

Celebrating Vilnius' anniversary with music in every corner of the city.

Vilnius Biennial for Performance ArtVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

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Musical Gifts for Vilnius

Vilnius' music festivals, already a cultural tradition, have served as special gifts for both residents and visitors in preparation for the anniversary and celebration of Vilnius' 700th birthday.

And what is a birthday without a song?

Lukiškės Prison 2.0 by LunatikaiVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

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Vilnius upped its game and instead of a birthday song the city had crowds singing hundreds of songs in a number of concerts and festivals.

Public spaces, city streets, and forgotten corners filled with music to make the whole city celebrate.

Vilnius - an open music spaceVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

To celebrate Vilnius' 700th anniversary, the city's residents and visitors were treated to an extraordinary musical event – "An Open Music Space". 

Vilnius - an open music spaceVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

700 Minutes of Music

For two days, 700 minutes of music filled the air further away from the traditional Vilnius Old Town, in four residential areas. They became music halls where live music could be heard!

Song FestivalVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

"An Open Music Space" invited people to discover more remote districts and brought music for those who don’t usually visit concerts. 

Vilnius - an open music space by Saulius ŽiūraVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Free concerts featuring 24 talented performers, spanning an array of musical genres from folk to rock, provided an opportunity for community members to participate in a unique summer festival right in their own neighborhoods. 

Festival ,, As Young As Vilnius"Vilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

As Young As Vilnius

The music festival "As Young as Vilnius" began a tradition of celebrating Vilnius' birthday twice a year, on January 25th and July 25th, the latter coinciding with the birthday of St. Christopher, the patron of Vilnius. 

Festival ,, As Young As Vilnius" by Mantas GudzinevičiusVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

More than 70.000 festival-goers in one stadium! "As Young as Vilnius" attracts people with a wide range of genres.

In a single day, the audience had a chance to hear classical and pop music hits from local and world-renowned stars.

Festival ,, As Young As Vilnius"Vilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Celebrating Together

One of the fundamental values of Vilnius has always been multiculturalism. That's why, at the "As Young as Vilnius", traditional VIP boxes were set aside - all Vilnius residents and city guests could equally enjoy the music celebration.

Vingis Park by Mantas GudzinevičiusVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

The free festival reflects Vilnius as a young, progressive city with an interest in innovation. Taking place under the open sky, the festival creates a liberating atmosphere. "As Young as Vilnius" puts Vilnius on the map of cultural events on a global stage. 

Travelling Opera ,,Opera on Wheels"Vilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Opera on the Road

traveling opera set out from Vilnius through Lithuania, inviting everyone to celebrate the upcoming 700th Vilnius anniversary in their city while enjoying the free performance of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's one-act comic opera "The Maid Turned Mistress".

When the colorful trailer rolls into town, expect the unexpected! After all, this trailer carries the entire household of the bachelor Umberto, the maid Serpina, and a bunch of musicians dressed in white wigs. 

Travelling Opera ,,Opera on Wheels"Vilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

The traveling opera goes beyond the walls of traditional venues but keeps the tradition alive. 

Travelling Opera ,,Opera on Wheels"Vilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Why Opera?

It was first performed on a professional stage in Vilnius before London or Paris! Vilnius continues to promote this genre, allowing opera arias to be heard in other cities, filling unexpected spaces.

Vilnius Poker concert by Vigantas OvadnevasVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Jazz Echoes in Vilnius

Opera might be the tradition of Vilnius, but the heart of the city beats to the rhythm of jazz. A unique jazz composition "Vilnius Poker" reflecting the ever-changing and enduring modern face of the city was a perfect soundtrack for one of Vilnius' anniversary scenes. 

Born from the legend of the Iron Wolf, Vilnius itself became a legendary city, as revealed by Ričardas Gavelis in his novel "Vilnius Poker" in 1989.

Vilnius PokerVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

Vilnius Poker

To celebrate the anniversary of the Lithuanian capital, "Vilnius Poker" took on new faces. One of them - an open-air jazz concert featuring musical compositions by Kipras Mašanauskas and Jievaras Jasinskas for the future film adaptation of "Vilnius Poker".

The synthesis of film, music, and literature guaranteed an unforgettable experience enhanced by exceptional scenographic solutions.

Vilnius Poker concert by Vigantas OvadnevasVilnius, Unexpectedly Amazing

A contemporary improvisation of the legendary literary work was brought to life by a 20-member jazz ensemble, the "Vilnius JJAZZ Ensemble," featuring singer Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė and actor Andrius Paulavičius.

In the book, one of the main scenes takes place in an abandoned church where musicians secretly perform a profoundly intense avant-garde jazz composition. That’s why the "Vilnius Poker" concert took place in an abandoned church at Lukiškės prison.

As Young As Vilnius – The City That Never Stops Celebrating

In 2025, culminating the 700th anniversary festivities, the As Young As Vilnius festival filled the city with music, joy, and youthful energy — a reminder that even at 700, Vilnius still dances to a fresh, modern beat.

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