ALGIRDAS MARTINAITIS (b.1950): Concerto for Tenor, Flute, Oboe, Harpsichord and Strings “Musikalisches Opfer” (Giovanni da Silva [tenor], Valentinas Gelgotas [flute], Eugenijus Paškevičius [oboe]), OSVALDAS BALAKAUSKAS (b.1937): Concerto for Oboe, Harpsichord and Strings (Robertas Beinaris [oboe]), BRONIUS KUTAVIČIUS (b.1932): Dzūkian Variations for Chamber Orchestra and Recording (w/Veronika Povilionienė [folksinger]).

Description: Kutavičius' breathtakingly beautiful set of variations was written for the centenary of Čiurlionis' birth. Kutavičius is a highly individual composer with an unique soundworld, sometimes described as 'rough', 'primeval' or 'primitive'. Not here. The melancholy folksong is introduced by a folksinger, then taken up in ravishing string textures with some unique timbres (but nothing outlandish), then completed by a gorgeous choral coda. Balakauskas' attractive concerto combines neoclassical precision and clarity with impressionistic and modern, though always tonal, harmonies. The first movement is jaunty, the second pastoral, and the third energetically propulsive, with the combination of soloists providing rhythmic crispness and playful melodiousness. Martinaitis' highly original 'Musical Offering', written for the 250th anniversary of Bach's death, is a concerto grosso which evokes the Baroque period both in its (admittedly unorthodox) concertino group and its frequent evocation of Baroque styles, textures and harmonies. These traits are seamlessly combined with an accessible, tonal, contemporary idiom to striking and satisfying effect. The small sung sections set passages from Revelation: 12 (the Woman clothed with the Sun and the Great Red Dragon), but the exact texts are not provided. Vaiva Eidukaitytė-Storastienė (harpsichord), Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra; Adrija Čepaitė.