On 10 July, the Palanga Concert Hall will host a special event of the International M. K. Čiurlionis Music Festival, where music, dance and image will merge. Enchanting images from the virtual reality experience “Creation of the Worlds” will enrich the dance opera “Creation of the Worlds” by Jonas Jurkūnas and give the event a complete multifaceted feel. The organisers’ press release features an interview with Lukas Verpetinskas, the project’s distribution partner for the development of the project in Lithuania.

– What is special about the participation of Creation of the Worlds in this year’s M. K. Čiurlionis Festival in Palanga?

– It’s a great honour for us. Čiurlionis’ work is not only extremely rich, but also very suitable for visual interpretation. This year’s festival is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis’ birth. The new virtual journey created by Kristina Buožytė and Vitalius Žukas is designed to commemorate the same occasion, so the same ambition has become a beautiful partnership. The 2D images from the virtual reality experience “Creation of the Worlds”, created especially for this event, will accompany music and dance, combining several layers of art into one sensory experience, one story.

What will the audience see during the dance opera ‘Creation of the Worlds’ – what role will projections play?

– The video images act as an additional emotional bridge between the music and the viewer. They do not directly indicate what to see or feel, but they create an atmosphere, and bring one into the inner world of M. K. Čiurlionis. Creation of the Worlds project was born as if out of his painting, symbolism and philosophy itself – it pulsates with light, space and mystery. The almost one-hour images, specially arranged for this event, will create a unique story about the Creation of the Worlds, enhance the feeling, and create a harmonious and immersive whole. The visuals are not just a backdrop – they will be present in the dance opera as an equal element of the narrative.

How did the Creation of the Worlds team create the projections for the dance opera?

– The creative process was a very sensitive and deliberate team effort. We tried to select the right images, transfer them from virtual reality to projections without spoiling the experience and the feeling that the audience can experience during the event in Palanga Concert Hall. We worked on trying to create a movement to M. K. Čiurlionis’ work without spoiling or distorting it – analysing shapes, symbolism of colours, compositions. We tried not to imitate, but to continue his thought, to give it a new life with modern technologies. Since the dance opera “Creation of the Worlds” encompasses both music and dance, it was necessary to harmonise the rhythm, the energy, and the space of all components.

– Is the work of M. K. Čiurlionis suitable for this type of multimedia project?

– Yes, of course. His works themselves invite us into a multimedia experience – M.K. Čiurlionis was a visionary whose worldview was imbued with synaesthesia. He himself sought sound in painting and video music. So working with his work is not only an inspiring challenge, but also a kind of continuity – as if we were creating with him today.

– How did the cooperation with the organisers of the M. K. Čiurlionis Festival begin?

– It all started very naturally. The festival team spotted us through other projects and got in touch. From the very beginning, we felt a common creative pulse – a desire to create more than just a musical project, to create an experience that dance opera audiences could enjoy. The collaboration was very smooth, with mutual trust and creative openness. It is a truly inspiring partnership.

– What would you wish for the audience coming to the premiere of this work?

– Come with open eyes and an open heart. Allow yourself to experience – not only to listen, but also to see, feel, immerse. This evening will be not only a musical, but also a visual narrative – each person’s perception of creating and nurturing their own worlds. And for those who have not yet seen the Creation of the Worlds in virtual reality, we invite you to visit us in Palanga, Klaipėda or any other Lithuanian city.