Vilnius European Capital of Culture 2009: Opening of the Programme - 31 December 2008

(2008 12 18 10:35)

In 2009 Vilnius will be The European Capital of Culture. On the eve of 2009 visitors and residents can witness the unique musical fiesta of dance, sound and light.

The celebration of opening will begin at 10.45 in Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports. @Hoffmann Spragtukas will performe his impression of 2008 year by a musical interpretation of E. T. A. Hoffman’s fairy-tale and P. Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, involving more than 150 musicians, dancers, actors and stuntmen. The combination of visual projections of unseen proportions with lights, stunts and pyrotechnics will be displayed on multi-level glass stage mounted on the façade of Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports. The presentation will last till 11.30 pm.

Then, on the Catedral Squere spectators will have the opportunity to watch the light performance by Gert Hof from midnight till 00.20 a.m. The world-wide famous light artist will provide a 20-minute long light, firework and music show. Sixty giant high-resolution multicoloured spotlights, ten world’s most powerful laser cannons and other high-tech wonders will allow creating unforgettable artistic effects.

All of the shows will be broadcast on screens erected in the City Hall Square and next to Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports, and live broadcast on the LTV Channel.