Join us for a concert with cellist Gleb Pyšniak and pianist Rokas Zubovas, celebrating the anniversary of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Lithuania’s most prominent artist:

Čiurlionis in Glass with Gleb Pyšniak and Rokas Zubovas

The concert is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, the exceptional Lithuanian composer and painter. His art, infused with cosmic vision and delicate sensitivity, continues to inspire artists worldwide.

At the heart of the concert lies Čiurlionis’ music and its dialogue with works from different epochs and cultures. The program reflects the cultural ties between Lithuania and the United States – from composers with Lithuanian roots or close ties to Lithuania, such as Anatolijus Šenderovas and Žibuoklė Martinaitytė, to American musical icons Philip Glass and George Gershwin, who both have ancestral ties to Lithuania.

Martinaitytė, who has resided in the U.S. for many years, often explores themes of time, space, and emotional perception in her work. Her latest opus, “unda, unda… inundare…”, was written specifically for Čiurlionis’ 150th birth anniversary. Gershwin’s music, once especially beloved by the Lithuanian émigré community in America, here becomes a symbol of cultural connection, while Glass’s minimalism intriguingly resonates with Čiurlionis’s visionary spirit.

Thus, the program is not only a tribute to Čiurlionis’ legacy but also a living dialogue between Lithuanian and American musical cultures, between past and present.

Lithuanian cellist Gleb Pyšniak is regarded as one of the most distinctive artists of his generation in the Baltic region. He made his debut at the age of fourteen with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Prof. Saulius Sondeckis and went on to study at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof. Rimantas Armonas. He later continued his education in Vienna with Prof. Natalia Gutman at the Konservatorium Wien (graduating with distinction) and studied chamber music with Prof. Johannes Meissl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. A laureate of the Karl Davydov International Cello Competition and winner of the Antonio Janigro Competition, he has also received the Yamaha Music Foundation Award and was named a “New Master on Tour” by the Holland Music Sessions.

Pyšniak has performed at prestigious venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Musikverein, Moscow Conservatory Great Hall, Quirinal Palace in Rome, Porto Casa da Música, and Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb, among many others. His discography includes Baltic Prayer, LEGENDOS, Window to Lithuania, Duettissimo, Aerogramme, Exclusively Piazzolla, and Vilos Trio – Johanna Doderer Piano Trios. Since 2019, he has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and serves as Artistic Director of the International Joseph Achron Festival, Kintai Festival, and Kalėdinis Vilnius festival.

Pianist Rokas Zubovas has taught piano in Chicago (Saint Xavier University), Vilnius (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre), and Kaunas (Vytautas Magnus University), where he was granted full professorship in 2013.  He is also the director of M. K. Čiurlionis House in Vilnius. Mr. Zubovas completed bachelor studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and received his Master's Degree in piano performance from DePaul University in Chicago, USA. 

Mr. Zubovas toured with concerts in South and North America, performed in most countries of Europe, and in Asia. His discography includes over 20 releases, in both vinyl and CD format. In 2010, he recorded all piano works of Čiurlionis releasing 6 CD set. Mr. Zubovas has delivered papers on various aspects of Čiurlonis’ art at international conferences in Lithuania, Estonia, Argentina, and Belgium. He organizes music festivals and other cultural events, writes articles on music and culture for various publications in and outside of Lithuania, and has created the main character in a feature film about M. K. Čiurlionis, "Letters to Sofija." He is a great grandson of Čiurlionis.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

The event is organized in collaboration with the SF Lithuanian Community and will feature their popup art exhibit, "Floral Symphonies: Echos Čiurlionis."

This event is part of Global Conversations, a series of talks, lectures, and cultural events hosted by Stanford University Libraries and Vabamu with the goal of educating scholars, students, leaders, and the public on the benefits of but also challenges related to sustaining freedom.