Giedrė Kaukaitė (soprano)
Giedrė Kaukaitė, soprano, graduated from the Lithuanian State Conservatoire where she studied with Elena Dirsienė (1963−68). She later attended a training programme at La Scala, Milan, with Prof. Gennaro Barra, Enrico Piazza and Arturo Merlini (1968−70). The singer attended the Salzburg Summer Academy with Prof. Paul von Schilawsky (1988).
She is a laureate of Lithuanian and international competitions (1st prize at the Lithuanian Singers Competition (1968), 2nd prize at the Baltic Singers Competition (1968), 1st prize at the M. Glinka Vocal Competition (1971)).
Having started her creative career on the opera stage (she sang Marguerite in Faust in 1968−78; Mimi, Madame Butterfly, Desdemona, Tatyana, Halka, Shirin and others); later G. Kaukaitė chose a concert soloist‘s career. She is remarkable for her remarkable unique singing manner exemplifying a colourful ‘vocal theatre’.
During her 35 year career Giedrė Kaukaitė has given over a 1000 solo concerts and participated in productions of cantatas and oratories with theLithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Television and Radio Great Symphony Orchestra and Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, ensembles Musica Humana and Vilniaus Arsenalas, Vilnius Quartet and Vilnius String Quartet. She has sung many concerts of sacral music with Lithuanian organists.
The singer is an excellent interpreter of contemporary music. She was the first to perform opuses by many Lithuanian composers, her contemporaries (J. Nabažas, E. Balsys, J. Juzeliūnas, J. Bašinskas, F. Bajoras, A. Martinaitis, B. Kutavičius, V. Kairiūkštis), which were often dedicated to her.
The soloist has sung in prestigious international halls: Moscow Bolshoi Theatre, the Great and Small Halls of the Moscow P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, St. Petersburg Small Opera Theatre and The State Academic Capella, Carnegie Recital Hall (New York), City Hall (New York), London Hall (Boston), UN Concert Hall, Hartford University Hall (Connecticut), Stockholm Royal Green Hall, Kristiansand Cathedral (Norway), Riga andPrague National Opera Theatres. She has toured many European countries, USA (Carnegie Recital Hall) and Latin America.
Giedrė Kaukaitė has participated in prestigious international music festivals: Prinzregentheater (Munich, Germany), Sandomierz Castle, Wavell Palace (Poland), Grunewaldsalen (Sweden), Kristiansand Cathedral (Norway) and Centre culturel de Toulouse (France).
Jūratė Vyliūtė writes about the soloist’s repertoire: “…roles in operas, parts in oratories, vocal cycles, songs, baroque, neo-classical, romanticist epochs, modern 20th century literature. And nearly all most significant new vocal music by Lithuanian composers of the last two decades: not only its first performance or resurrection from depreciation, but also creation of a style of interpretation.”
G. Kaukaitė has been teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre since 1977: she leads the chamber singing discipline and has been teaching solo singing since 1993. Laureates of international competitions are among her students: Judita Leitaitė, the winner of the 2nd prize at the XII M. Glinka Vocal Competition in 1987 and a laureate of J. Sibelius Vocal Competition in Helsinki 1991; Ligita Račkauskaitė, diploma at the 1st International Competition of Chamber Singing in Kaliningrad.
G. Kaukaitė has recorded 11 records; many of her performances have been recorded at the Lithuanian Television and Radio. G. Kaukaitė has starred in 18 Lithuanian Television films. Two films, Crazy May (Pašėlęs gegužis, directed by J. Janulevičiūtė, 1978) and F. Poulenc’s mono-opera The Human Voice were awarded first prizes at international television film competitions. The singer has also been publishing articles and books. She has published two methodical works: Apie dainuojančius and Dainininkui apie baroką. She has been awarded honorary titles by the Soviet Government: honourable artist and people’s artist. On the 30th anniversary of her creative career she was awarded the State Art Award (1997).
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 17-23 03 1995
J.Brahms
Wie Melodien zicht es mir, w. K.Groth
Dein blaues Auge, w. K.Groth
Am Sonntag Morgen, w. J.Heyse's
Regenlied, w. K.Groth
Liebestreu, w. R.Reinicke's
Dort in den Weiden (Folk song)
Madchenlied, w. J.Heyse's
Verblishes Standchen (Folk song)
S.Barber The daisies, w. I.Stephens
Sure on this shining night , w. J.Agee
The secrets of the old, w. B.Yeats
O.Respighi La notte, w. A.Negri
La pioggia, w. A.Negri
Le nebbie, w. A.Negri
F.Bajoras
Songs, w. folk
Suite of Stories, w. folk
Giedrė Kaukaitė and Gražina Ručytė
F.Latėnas
Divorces, w. S.Geda
G.Kaukaitė, P.Vyšniauskas, S.Šiaučiulis
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 29 03 1985
E.Granados
Intermezzo for 4 cellos and piano
F.Garcia Lorca
8 Spanish folk songs for voice and piano
J.Nin
Three songs for voice and piano
Part II
E.Villa Lobos
Bachianas brasileiras no.1 for 8 cellos
Bachianas brasileiras no.5
Giedrė Kaukaitė (soprano), Povilas Stravinskas (piano), cellists: Augustinas Vasiliauskas, Rimantas Armonas, Irena Čepulkovska, Violeta Klimavičiūtė, Arvydas Malcys, Virgilijus Vasiliauskas, Jurgis Banevičius, Dainius Palšauskas
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 25-28 05 1982
G.F.Handel
Chamber trio No. 6 in G minor, op. 2
K.F.E.Bach
10 pieces
G.F.Handel
Sonata for flute and harpsichord No. 1, in E minor, op. 1
J.Tamulionis
Meditations (I perf.)
O.Balakauskas
Variations for flute and harpsichord (I perf.)
A.Martinaitis
Cantus ad futurum for two sopranos, chamber ensemble and organ (I perf.)
Ensemble Musica Humana, Giedrė Kaukaitė (soprano), Regina Maciūtė (soprano), Gediminas Kviklys (harpsichord)
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 14 03 1982
J.Širvinskas
Symphony for chamber orchestra
G.F.Handel
Three arias from oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus "
soloist Giedrė Kaukaitė
F.Bajoras
Auki, auki žalias beržas, Grow, Grow, Green Birch (War Songs), for voice and chamber orchestra
soloist Giedrė Kaukaitė
F.Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 10, in B minor
Saulius Sondeckis (conductor), Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra
Concert at Palau de la Musica Catalana, 12 12 1980
Weber Overture Oberon
Tchaikovsky Concerto for violin and orchestra op. 35
Andrei Korsakov, violin
Mahler Symphony No. 4
Giedrė Kaukaitė, soprano
Conductor Vladimir Fedosiev
Concert at Moscow National Philharmonic Hall, 07 10 1980
J.S.Bach
Passacaglia in C minor
Two Chorales
L.Digrys (organ)
G.Daulend
6 songs for voice and harpsichord
Soloist G.Kaukaitė
Part II
A.Stradella
Pieta Signore
O.Respigi
Le Nebbie
Soloist G.Kaukaitė
C.Franck
Fantasy in A major
Chorale in A minor
L.Digrys (organ)
Concert at Moscow Concervatory Big Hall, 03 05 1980
T.Chrenikov
ConcertoNo. 2 for violin and orchestra op. 23
K.Szymanowski
Concerto No. 1 for violin and orchestra op. 35
Part II
G.Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Big Symphony Orchestra of Radio and Television, Vladimiras Fedosejevas (conductor), Igoris Oistrachas (violin), Giedrė Kaukaitė (soprano)
Concert at Moscow Concervatory Big Hall, 02 04 1980
G.F.Handel Oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus"
Chamber ensemble of Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, "Ąžuoliukas" choir, Juozas Domarkas (conductor), Giedrė Kaukaitė, Aušra Stasiūnaitė, Algis Čiplys, Vladimiras Prudnikovas
Concert at Latvian National Philharmonic Hall, 23 01 1980
A.Scarlatti
Le violette
A.Caldara
Aria
D.Sarri
Aria
D. Daulend
Three songs from vocal cycle "The Piligrime Solace"
H.Purcell
Three worldly songs
G.F.Handel
Three arias from oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus"
Three Lithuanian Folk Songs
K.Brundzaitė
Two Laments
N.Fraser
Two songs from vocal cycle "Brazilian songs"
H.Villa Lobos
Modinhas e canções
M.Sandoval
Nostalgia
J.Nin
Three antiquity Spanish songs
Eugenijus Ginis (piano)
Concert at Georgian National Philharmonic Hall, 09 12 1979
W.A.Mozart Requiem
Georgian Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas Choir, Juozas Domarkas (conductor), Giedrė Kaukaitė (soprano), Vitalija Šiškutė (mezzosoprano), Algis Čiplys (tenor), Vladimiras Prudnikovas (bass)
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 31 05 1978
P.Tchaikovsky
To bïlo ranneyu vesnoy / It was in the early spring
Uzh gasli v komnatakh ogni / The fires in the rooms were already out
Ni slova, o drug moy / Not a word, O my friend, op. 6
Na nivï zhyoltïye / On the golden cornfields, op. 57
Ya li v pole da ne travushka bïla? / Was I not a little blade of grass? op. 47
Kabï znala ya / If only I had known, op. 47
N.Rimsky-Korsakov
Na kholmakh Gruzii / On the hills of Georgia, w. Pushkin
Part II
V.Gavrilin
7 songs from cycle "Russkaya tetrad"
Povilas Stravinskas (piano)
Concert at the Carnegie Recital Hall, 04 06 1977
G.F.HANDEL - "Pastorella Vagha Bella"
— Judas Maccabaeus — Part II"Du sinkst, ach armes Israel..."
— Judas Maccabaeus — Part III
"Dann tont der laut 'und harte klang ..."
G.VERDI - Othello - Act IV
"Ave Maria"
Ch.GOUNOD - Faust - Act III
"The Jewel Song"
G.PUCCINI - La Bohème - Act III
"Donde lieta usci al tuo grido d'amore
— Madame Butterfly — Act II
"Che tua madre dovrà prenderti in braccio ...”
Intermission
Songs from the Dzūkija region of Lithuania "Oi, dievuliau" "Vai, žydėk, žydėk"
Songs from the Žemaitija region Voi, Jozi Jozieli
Voi, Vuolunge, Vuolungele
Wedding Songs From Dzūkija Sėjau Rūta
Dainuok, Sesula
Oi, Tu, Kasela
Neduok, Motula
Aš Kelaliu Važiavau
R.Žigaitis "Eina Bernelis"
F.Bajoras (American Premiere) "Tu Vyšnela"
"Malda"
"Lopšinė"
"Kur Tėvulio Klėtelė"
K.Brundzaitė "Dvi Raudos" (Songs of Lament)
(Variations on an old Lithuanian Folk Song)
F.Bajoras "Ugdė Motutė"
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 27 10 1976
W.A.Mozart
Symphony No. 39, in E flat major
G.Verdi
Ave Maria from opera "Otello" Part IV
G.Pucinni
Butterfly aria from opera "Madame Butterfly" Part III
Giedrė Kaukaitė
Part II
D.Shostakovich
Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, op. 70
Margarita Dvarionaitė (conductor), Lithuanian National Orchestra
Concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall, 11 05 1975
A.Scarlatti
Le Violette
V.Belinni
Norma's cavatina from opera "Norma"
R.Wagner
Elisa's dream from opera "Lohengrin"
P.Tchaikovsky
Was I not a little blade of grass? op. 47
If only I had known, A.K. Tolstoy
G.Verdi
Elvira's cavatina from opera "Ernani"
Part II
F.Bajoras
Vocal cycle "Suite of Stories"
M.de Falla
7 canciones populares españolas
Gražina Ručytė (piano)
Concert at Tallinn National Philharmonic Hall, 12 1973
A.Scarlatti Le Violette
Sento nel core
F.Schubert
Barcarolle
G.Verdi Desdemona's song and Ave Maria from opera Otello
Elvira'os cavatina from opera Ernani
P.Tchaikovsky Ya li v pole da ne travushka bila?
To bïlo ranneyu vesnoy
Kabï znala ya
V.Tormis 4 sketches
F.Bajoras Variations on a theme Lithuanian song "Augino mane motutė"
N.Fraser Two songs from cycle "Brazilian songs"
M.Sandoval Two songs from cycle "Spanish songs"
Gražina Ručytė, piano
Concert programme No. 1
VOCAL RECITAL PART I
Giedre Kaukaite - soprano Gražina Ručyte - piano
G.F. Haendel Cantata "Pastorella vagha bella"
Aria
Recitative
Aria
G.B. Pergolesi Cantata "Dal Sigre, ahi mia dal sigre"
Recitative
Aria
Recitativ
Aria
J. Haydn Cantata "Arianna a Naxos" HOB.XXVIb:2
Recitativ
Aria
Recitativ
Aria
F. Bajoras Songs to folk lyrics
Jojau dienely (1977)
Malda (1968)
Oi, dievuliau (1969)
Ritauja, sesute (1979)
Variations on the folk song "Ugde matute" (1969)
Series of songs to folk lyrics "Sakmių siuita" (1969)
Triptych to the lyrics by M. Martinaitis (1981) (dedicated to K. Penderecki)
VOCAL RECITAL PART II
W.A. Mozart An Chloe KV 524 (Johann Georg Jacobi)
Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrante KV 520 (Gabriele von Baumberg) Abendempfindung KV 523 (J. H. Campe)
F. Schubert Wohin? (aus Zyklus von Liedern "Die schöne Müllerin" von Wilhelm Müller) D. 911 No. 2 Der Atlas (aus Zyklus von Liedern "Schwanengesang" von L. Reilstab) D.911 No.8
J. Brahms Dein blaues Augen op. 59 No. 8 (Klaus Groth)
Regenlied op. 59 No. 3 (Klaus Groth)
Am Sonntag Morgen op. 49 No. 1 (Paul Heyse)
Liebestreu op. 3 No. 1 (Robert Reinick)
G. Mahler Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?! (1892)
Verlorne Müh! (1892)
Aus! Aus! (1887)
Zu Strassburg auf der Schanz (1887)
Nicht Wiedersehen! (1887) (Lyrics from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn")
LITHUANIAN FOLK SONGS
Wedding songs from Dzūkija region - Sejau ruta
Dainuok, sesula
Aš kelaliu vaziavau
Christmas songs from Dzūkija region - Sedzi vyrai užu stalo
Sodzino brolis
Atbėga elnias devyniaragis
Harvest songs from Žemaitija region - Voi vuolunge, vuolungele
lek' gervele
Žysta žuolele
Ancient war songs from Aukštaitija region – Oi, ant kalno
Užaugino motka suny
Raibi gaideliai giedojo
Auki, Auki žalias beržas
”...with an ample-sized voice of considerable force and range as well as exeptional physical attractiveness, Miss Kaukaite no dobt creates a striking presence on the operatic stage. Her renditions of familiar arias by Handel, Verdi, Gounod and Puccini displayed a solid idiomatic grasp of stylistic essentials and a quik response to dramatic situations.”
Peter G.Davis, New York Times, 1977
”...Giedre kaukaite for me is a phenomenon in vocal art. In her finale, the very strains which are not always possessed by the most famous stars: a complete harmony of singing and phrasing, diction and voice, physical appearance and grace, culture and self-command, as well as a rare subtlety of interpretation and, of course, the most catching charm...”
Bohdan Pociej, Ruch Muzyczny, 1979 (Poland)
”Listening to Giedre Kaukaite one could think he was feeling her voice and warmth resonating in his heart...”
Frank Hogberg, Sorlandet, 1983 (Norway)
”Perfectly refined phrasing, the play of black and white shades in A.Caldara, A.Scarlatti, M.A.Cesti arias, particoloured folk character in F.Bajoras ”Legends”. In the first case, bel canto prefected at La Scala, in the second folk intonation peculiar only to authentic folk performers. This kind of vocal theater is rare among our singers...”
Irena Miksyte, from record comments, 1985 (Lithuania)
”...Giedre Kaukaite's outstanding voice enchants the audience from the first with power, color and presence.”
B.M. Grand Toulouse, 1992 (France)
