Gintaras Rinkevicius
Encyclopedia
Gintaras Rinkevičius is a Lithuanian conductor, who was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize
for Culture and Arts in 1994. In 1989 he founded the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
.
in 1983, and from Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
in 1986. In 1985 he was won the Herbert von Karajan
Fund International Competition for Conductors in Berlin
. Between 1996 and 2003, he served as the Latvian National Opera
’s artistic director and chief conductor; he was also chief conductor at the Malmö Opera and Music Theatre
from 2002 to 2005.
Among the symphony orchestras he has conducted are the Berliner Symphoniker
, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra
in Copenhagen
, the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra
, and the Russian State Symphony. He has conducted performances in Salzburg
, the Royal Albert Hall
in London
, and the Champs Elysées Theatre in Paris
, as well as in Taiwan
and Hong Kong
. He has been a featured conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre
in Moscow since 2003.
Rinkevičius continues to work in Lithuania, staging operas at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
, serving as chief conductor and artistic director of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
, and as a professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
. He has used these opportunities to introduce a number of original compositions by Lithuanian composers, including A Letter to all the Congregation by Algirdas Martinaitis and Agnus Dei by Feliksas Bajoras.
Since September 2007 Gintaras Rinkevičius is also an artistic director and principal conductor of the Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra.
Lithuanian National Prize
The Lithuanian National Prize , established in 1989, is an award granted for achievements in culture and the arts. It has been awarded annually in six categories since 2006...
for Culture and Arts in 1994. In 1989 he founded the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra is one of Lithuania's two national orchestras, founded in 1988. The other, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1940....
.
Biography
Rinkevičius graduated from Lithuania's M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts, from the Saint Petersburg ConservatorySaint Petersburg Conservatory
The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory is a music school in Saint Petersburg. In 2004, the conservatory had around 275 faculty members and 1,400 students.-History:...
in 1983, and from Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
in 1986. In 1985 he was won the Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
Fund International Competition for Conductors in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Between 1996 and 2003, he served as the Latvian National Opera
Latvian National Opera
The Latvian National Opera , Riga, is the national opera of Latvia. The opera company includes the Latvian National Ballet , LNO Chorus, and LNO Orchestra.-History:...
’s artistic director and chief conductor; he was also chief conductor at the Malmö Opera and Music Theatre
Malmö Opera and Music Theatre
Malmö Opera and Music Theatre is an opera house in Malmö, Sweden. An opera company of the same name presents seasons of opera in this house....
from 2002 to 2005.
Among the symphony orchestras he has conducted are the Berliner Symphoniker
Berliner Symphoniker
Berliner Symphoniker ia a Symphony orchestra in Berlin, Germany.The orchestra began its performing activity on 1 September 1967 as Symphonisches Orchester Berlin. In 1990 it was renamed Berliner Symphoniker...
, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra
Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra , also known as the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra which both serves as Danish Regional Orchestra for the island of Zealand and, for the summer season while the Tivoli Gardens are open, as resident orchestra in the Tivoli Concert...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra
Russian National Orchestra
The Russian National Orchestra premiered in Moscow in 1990.It was the first Russian orchestra to perform at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican and in Israel....
, and the Russian State Symphony. He has conducted performances in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and the Champs Elysées Theatre in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, as well as in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He has been a featured conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
in Moscow since 2003.
Rinkevičius continues to work in Lithuania, staging operas at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
200px|thumb|Theatre buildingLithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre is an opera house and ballet theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was built in 1974.-Opera:...
, serving as chief conductor and artistic director of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra is one of Lithuania's two national orchestras, founded in 1988. The other, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1940....
, and as a professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a state-supported conservatory that trains students in music, theatre, and multimedia arts.-History:...
. He has used these opportunities to introduce a number of original compositions by Lithuanian composers, including A Letter to all the Congregation by Algirdas Martinaitis and Agnus Dei by Feliksas Bajoras.
Since September 2007 Gintaras Rinkevičius is also an artistic director and principal conductor of the Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra.
Awards and prizes
- Winner, Fifth Confederate Conductors' Competition in Moscow (1983)
- Laureate, international competition In Memoriam János FerencsikJános FerencsikJános Ferencsik was a Hungarian conductor.Ferencsik was born in Budapest; he actively played music even as a very young boy. He took violin lessons and taught himself to play the organ. He studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Budapest, where his major subjects were organ performance...
in Budapest (1986) - Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasOrder of the Lithuanian Grand Duke GediminasThe Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas is the Lithuanian Presidential Award which was re-instituted to honour the citizens of Lithuania for outstanding performance in civil and public offices. Foreign nationals may also be awarded this Order. The Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke...
, Fourth Class (1997) - Grand Latvian Music Award (1997 and 2000)
- Latvian Order of the Three StarsOrder of the Three StarsOrder of the Three Stars is order awarded for merits in service for Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra"...
- Chevalier of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
- commander of the Portuguese Order of Merit
External links
- http://www.lvso.lt/en/?pid=475 Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- http://www.lrkm.lt/EasyAdmin/sys/files/Vilnius2009_web.pdf Vilnius - European Capital of Culture in 2009. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of LithuaniaMinistry of Culture of the Republic of LithuaniaThe Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania is a governmental body of the Republic of Lithuania. Its mission is to formulate and implement state cultural policies supporting professional and amateur art, theatre, music, fine arts, cinema, museums, libraries, and written publications, to...
. Retrieved September 7, 2007.