Virgilijus Noreika memorial bust featured on LNOBT: he was like a father to his students

The director of the LNOBT, Jonas Sakalauskas, fondly remembered the teacher, assured him that until now he felt the patronage of his teacher. The initiative to immortalize the memory of V. Noreika was supported by the wife of the opera soloist Loreta Bartusevičiūtė-Noreikienė. Today, according to J. Sakalauskas, she is the greatest defender and ambassador of the ideas of perpetuating memory.

“We thought about what we could create to remind future generations of the legend of V. Noreika. The name of the soloist most familiar to all generations is synonymous with classical singing, Lithuanian opera. Even among those who have never been or will not be there. at the opera house. Noreika showed how to maintain a classical approach to music, even while singing pop works. She distinguished herself by her sustained presence on stage, great respect for the viewer, “said J. Sakalauskas.

The bust was produced thanks to benefactors.

One of the first ideas to commemorate the bust was proposed by Edgar Montvid, a former student of V. Noreika. A sculpture by director John Alexa is close at hand; Noreika could also appear.

The former prima donna of the ballet, Loreta, wife of V. Noreika, suggested building a monument outside. However, it was ultimately decided otherwise. “It just came to our attention then. I think we will get to the monument in the future.” Not long after death, we will add more to larger projects, “she said.

Waiting for the opportunity, LNOBT today unveiled a bust created by sculptor G. Piekuras. “The sculpture will remind those who came to the theater the name of V. Noreika. Many people contributed to this who supported them with their ideas, moral support, funds.” Vilniaus klubas “, support fund” Orfėjaus lyra “, students of teachers who they participate in all projects, in this – too “, – the head of LNOBT appointed the benefactors.

In July, a benefit evening was held at LNOBT to commemorate the legend of the opera, to implement the idea of ​​a bust. There were even several supporting concerts, the soloists agreed not to collect royalties and to dedicate them to the memory of Noreika. His students, Merūnas Vitulskis, Edgaras Montvidas, Vaidas Vyšniauskas and others, agreed to participate in all the initiatives, “said the interlocutor.

Another gift for fans of solo opera and those who care about its memory is the final concert of the V. Noreika International Competition, which will take place tomorrow – LNOBT. “The finalists of this competition will appear, singers from all over the world will come. This is one of the most solid competitions that are carried out in Lithuania, which makes visible the lyrical culture of our country, which recalls the name of V. Noreika ”, Explained J. Sakalauskas.

According to the sculptor’s idea, the bust is created on the second floor, where there is a lobby, a special niche has been prepared for it, but it is during this jubilee week and competition that the sculpture is placed in the most visible place – the Lobby Red.

Seeks to thrill the strings of the soul

V. Noreika became a soloist at the Opera and Ballet Theater in 1957. From 1975 to 1991, he was the director of this theater, the artistic director. Having led the LNOBT for over sixteen years, V. Noreika has made a strong mark.

“It can be said that the year of his management of the theater was a real boom period for opera and ballet, until the 1990s. All the legends and the best soloists that could be sung in the theater. Yes, there have been and there are still wonderful artists in all periods, but we probably did not have so many exceptional voices: Sergei Larin, Geham Grigorian, Vaclav Daunor; it is possible to name and name. Very strong opera company. First of all, it is his merit and his partner of many years J. Aleksas “, – J. Sakalauskas introduced him to the activities of the legendary personality.

The interlocutor remembered his teacher as a performer who had a crucial relationship with the viewer, who sought to touch the most important strings of the heart, the soul. “Noreika, who has given many concerts in Lithuania, has always said that spectators cannot be deceived, no matter where we perform, in the town or in the most important venues: the spectator must understand what is happening, he must give all his The spectator should laugh and cry with you, cheer up, feel good, like a member of the nobility who looks more proudly at the world after the concert, with more elegance, “recalls the teacher J. Sakalauskas warmly.

As the interlocutor said, V. Noreika tried to instill in the students a love for the Lithuanian language, music and the public: Perform works in a way that affects people, the world. As an educator, Noreika excelled at caring. She was like a father to her students: everyone can testify. That was the care that was the most important thing that allowed us to move forward after graduating from the academy.

A short biography reminiscent of the LNOBT

V. Noreika’s voice has been strong for 60 years, since 1957. In the spring of 1945, when he was a student in the Petrauskas Cypriot singing class at the Lithuanian State Conservatory, he made his debut on the stage of the Opera House and Ballet in the role of Lensky. In the autumn of the same year, V. Noreika became a soloist at the Lithuanian Opera.

1965-1966 V. Noreika improved at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan with the famous singing teacher Giannaro Barra. V. Noreika was the first Lithuanian artist to sing at La Scala, after the pre-war soloists Kipras Petrauskas and Veronika Podėnaitė.

V. Noreika has created almost 50 roles in the theater and has sung more than 1,000 performances in Lithuania and abroad. It was heard by the opera houses of Budapest, Berlin, Bratislava, Warsaw, Hamburg, as well as the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. V. Noreika also sang at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, together with him he toured in Paris, Milan, Prague, Brno.

After performing his first solo concert in 1959, V. Noreika organized more than 800 of them during his career. he taught future singers at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, he was their teacher. His students are Edgar Montvidas, Vaidas Vyšniauskas, Laimonas Pautienius, Merūnas Vitulskis and many others singing on the most famous stages in the world.

V. Noreika also taught at the Latin American Academy of Singing in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, directed the Singing Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and worked as a teacher for a master’s degree in singing at the Estonian Theater. She also directed in 2003. She established LNOBT Opera Studio, which operated until 2008.

From 1975 to 1991 V. Noreika directed the Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theater. He is the director who has run this theater for the longest time. 2013 V.Noreika received the title of LNOBT’s First Emeritus Soloist, a show of gratitude and respect for the theater.

V.Noreika, winner of the Art Prize of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the National Cultural Progress of Lithuania and the National Awards for Culture and Art, received the Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit for Lithuania, the Second Order of the Estonian White Star, the Royal Swedish Order first degree star.