Jonas Aleksa (1939-2005)
Jonas Aleksa (1939-02-23 Telšiai – 2005-10-17 Vilnius) – one of Lithuania’s foremost choral, orchestral and opera conductors, a pedagogue who has educated a number of talented conductors. An outstanding cultural figure he dedicated 40 years to development of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. He left salient mark in the music culture of Lithuania as well as Slovakia, Latvia, Russia, Germany and Holland.
Beginning
The third child in a family of Florijonas and Uršulė Aleksa, Jonas grew up with his two older sisters. His father had a beautiful voice, sang in the church. Even though never studied music he played organ, piano, guitar and other instruments. His mother had a nice contralto. Thus, music was always present at home open to honourable guests – writers, artists, and musicians – who greatly contributed to the cultural awareness of children.
In 1949–1956, he studied choral conducting under A. Jozėnas at the Vilnius Ten-Year Music School. In 1956–1961, he furthered his education at the Lithuanian State Conservatoire where he was a student of an associate professor A. Budriūnas.
After graduating from the Conservatoire cum laude, he went to Leningrad (presently Sankt Petersburg) to continue his education as a post-graduate student of orchestral-opera conducting under the tutelage of prof. E. Mravinsky at the N. Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire.
Creative years
Upon graduating from the Leningrad Conservatoire in 1965, he started working as a conductor at the Lithuanian State Opera and Ballet Theatre (presently the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre). He was fortunate to meet magnificent conductors who made great influence on his artistic development: in 1970 he took part in H. von Karajan’s seminar in Leningrad, and in 1973–1974 he honed his skills under prof. H. Swarovski and C. Österreicher at the Imperial Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Back in Lithuania in 1975, Aleksa was appointed the Principal Conductor of the Opera and Ballet Theatre and with short interruptions served for almost three decades. In 1995–1997, he also was a Director of the theatre, in 1997–2000 – an Artistic Director, and since 2003 – the Principal Conductor.
During 40 years at the Opera and Ballet Theatre Aleksa staged about 50 new opera productions, about 15 ballets, conducted hundreds of productions and concert programmes. Under his baton the Opera and Ballet Theatre orchestra started giving concerts: it appeared in concerts at the theatre foyer, presented a number of cantatas, was the first in Lithuania to perform J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor. Every premiere led by Aleksa was very important event of the Lithuania’s cultural life.
In addition, Aleksa conducted theatre productions in other Lithuanian theatres and also abroad. In 1976 and 1977, he staged and conducted Puccini’s La bohème and Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Mussorgsky Opera and Ballet Theatre in Leningrad. In 1989–1990, the aforementioned theatre invited him to lead Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades, Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina and The Golden Cockerel on tour in Paris and Italy.
In 1990–1994, Aleksa served as the Principal Conductor of the Slovak National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Bratislava where he staged and conducted a number of operas. With the theatre company he took part in Edinburg Festival (Great Britain). In 1993 and 1994 he toured France with the Latvian State Symphony Orchestra. At the time he also collaborated with symphony orchestras of Vienna, Rotterdam, The Hague and Poznan, was the Music Director at the Erfurt City Theatre. He led Lithuanian and Latvian choirs, orchestras and soloists in concert performances of large-scale works by Lithuanian and foreign composers.
With symphony orchestras he toured the former Soviet Union, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Italy and elsewhere.
He conducted the music for feature film Eglė, Poulenc’s mono-opera La voix humaine, Bartok’s opera A kékszakállú herceg vára. The Lithuanian and foreign radio stations and television recorded a number of various works conducted by Aleksa.
Aleksa was one of the cofounders and conductors of the chamber orchestra in Vilnius. He led the concert performance of Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas.
Moreover, Aleksa is known as a talented pedagogue. Since 1965, he was a lecturer at the Lithuanian State Conservatoire, since 1986 – an associate professor, since 1996 – a professor. He educated a lot of talented conductors. His disciple Julius Geniušas is the Principal Conductor of Kaunas Musical Theatre. Aleksa shepherded many a soloist on opera stage including Joana Gedmintaitė, Egidijus Dauskurdis, Laimonas Pautienius, Sandra Janušaitė and Jurgita Adamonytė.
Since 1995, Aleksa served as an Artistic Director and Conductor of the international student symphony orchestra.
In 1975, 1980 and 1985 he was one of the conductors at the National Song Festival.
In 1970, Aleksa was granted the title of a Distinguished Artist, and in 1978 – the title of Honorary People’s Artist. In 1982, he received the Lithuanian State Prize, in 1995 – the Latvian Music Grand Prix, in 1995 – the 3rd Class Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. In 2003, he was awarded the National Culture and Art Prize.
He died on October 17, 2005 at the age of 66. Buried in Artists’ Hill at the Antakalnis Cemetery.
Operas and operettas
E. Balsys
„Journey to Tilsit“ (1980)
V. Barkauskas
„Legend about Love“ (1975)
B. Bartok
„Bluebeard's Castle“ (1983)
L. van Beethoven
„Fidelio“ (1989)
G. Bizet
„Carmen“ (1972)
A. Borodin
„Prince Igor“
V. Chaet
„Puss in Boots“ (1977)
B. Dvarionas
„Dalia“ (2004)
G. Donizetti
„Lucia di Lammermoor“ (1990-1994)
Ch. Gounod
„Faust“(1971, 1974, (1990-1994)
J. F. Halévy
„La Juive“ (2004)
J. Juzeliūnas
„Insurgents“(1977)
V. Klova
„Two Swords“(1966)
F. Lehár
„The Merry Widow“ (2003)
N. Rimsky-Korsakov
„The Golden Cockerel“ (1989-1990)
J. Massenet
„Werther“ (1973)
S. Moniuszko
„Halka“ (1972)
W. A. Mozart
„Don Giovanni“ (2002)
„Idomeneo“ (1990-1994)
„The Marriage of Figaro“ (1990-1994)
„The Marriage of Figaro“ (1988)
M. Mussorgsky
„Boris Godunov“ (1982)
„Khovanshchina“ (1989-1990)
J. Offenbach
„The Tales of Hoffmann“ (1990-1994)
C. Orff
„Die Kluge (1965)
„Carmina Burana“ (1965)
G. Puccini
„La Boheme“ (1983)
„Madama Butterfly“(1976)
„Gianni Schicchi“ (2000)
„Suor Angelica“ (2001)
N. Rimsky-Korsakov
„The Golden Cockerel“
C. B. Pergolesi
„La serva padrona“ (1976)
H. Purcel
„Dido and Aeneas“
G. Rossini
„The Barber of Seville“ (1979)
A. Rubinstein
„Demon“(1970)
J. Strauss
„Die Fledermaus“ (1980)
„Wiener Blut" (1998)
E. Suchon
„The Whirlpool“ (1990-1994)
P. Tchaikovsky
„Eugene Onegin“ (1981)
„The Queen of Spades“ (1989)
G. Verdi
„Don Carlos“ (1981)
„Otello“ (1990-1994)
„Aida“ (1997)
„Macbeth“ (1995)
R. Wagner
„Lohengrin“ (1969)
„Tanhauser“
C. M. von Weber
„Der Freisshutz“ (1996)
Ballets
E. Balsys
„Eglė Queen of the Grass-snakes“ (1995)
B. Bartok
„Miraculous mandarin“ (1978)
K. Khachaturian
„Chipolino“ (1998)
J. Gruodis
„Jūratė and Kastytis“ (1978)
C. Orff
„Die Kluge“ (1965)
S. Prokofiev
„Romeo and Juliet“ (1977)
„Cinderella“ (1984)
A. Rekašius
„Aura“ (1986)
R. Ščedrin
„Anna Karenina“(1975)
A. Šenderov
„The Maiden and The death“ (1982)
P. Tchaikovsky
„The Sleeping Beauty“ (1981)
„The Nutcracker“ (1996)
M. Theodorakis
„Zorba the Greek“ (1998)
Foreign Composers
J. Adams
Concerto for violin and orchestra
J. S. Bach
Mass in B minor
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
St. Mark Passion, BWV 247
St. John Passion, BWV 245
Concerto for cello and orchestra in C minor
L. van Beethoven
„Coriolan“, overture, op. 62
„Egmont“, overture, op. 84
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major, op. 61
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 4
Symphony No. 2, in D major
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 7
A. Berg
Concerto for violin and orchestra
J. Brahms
„Academic overture“
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68
Symphony No. 2
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major
Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
Serenade in D major
B. Britten
„War Requiem“
A. Bruckner
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 7
Symphony No. 9 d-moll
Te Deum
L. Boccherini
Concerto for cello and orchestra in B flat major
B. Borisov
Symphony No. 7
A. Borodin
„Polovtsian dances“
Symphony No. 2
M. Bruch
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1
E. Chausson
Poem for violin and orchestra
F. Couperin
Concerto for two cellos
A. Corelli
Concerto grosso op.6
G. Donizetti
Miserere
A. Dvorak
Requiem
Biblical Songs
Concerto for cello and orchestra
M. de Falla
„Nights in the Gardens of Spain“ for piano and orchestra
J. Field
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3
C. Franck
Oratorio „Les Beatitudes“
T. Giordani
„Caro mio ben“
M. Glinka
Opera's „Ruslan and Ludmila“ overture-fantasy
Waltz-fantasy
G. Gershwin
Concerto for piano and orchestra in F major
„Rhapsody in Blue“ for piano and orchestra
G. F. Händel
Oratorio „Messiah“, HWV 56
Concerto grosso in A minor
Concerto grosso in E minor, op. 6 No.3
Concerto for organ and orchestra in G minor, op. 4, No. 1
Trio for violin, oboe and organ
J. Haydn
Oratorio „The Seasons“
Mass in B flat major
Concerto for violin, cello, oboe, bassoon and orchestra
P. Hindemith
Five pieces
Concerto for violin and orchestra
A. Honegger
„Pacific 231“
Prelude, arioso and fugue
A. Khachaturian
Concerto for violin and orchestra
Adagio from ballet „Spartacus“
E. Kopetzki
Concerto for marimba and string orchestra
F. Kreisler
Violin Concerto in C major in the style of Vivaldi
Rondino on a Theme of Beethoven
F. Liszt
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
B. Madey
Concerto for piano and orchestra
G. Mahler
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5
F. Mendelddohn
Concerto for violin and orchestra
W. A. Mozart
Great Mass in C minor, K. 427
Coronation Mass
Concerto for clarinet in A major
Concerto for oboe and orchestra in C major
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major
Concerto for violin and orchestra in A major
Concerto for piano and orchestra in E flat major
Concert Symphony for violin, viola and orchestra
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 24 in C minor
Symphony No. 38 in D major
Requiem
M. Mussorgsky
„A Night on Bald Mountain“
C. Orff
Cantata „Catulli Carmina“
Cantata „Carmina Burana“
N. Paganini
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1
F. Pytalev
Symphony No. 5
J. Pleyel
Concert Symphony for violin, viola and chamber orchestra
F. Poulenc
Concerto for organ and orchestra
S. Prokofiev
Classical Symphony
Cantata „Alexander Nevsky“, op. 78
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3
Sinfonia Concertante op. 125 for cello and orchestra
Symphony No. 5 in D major, op. 100
S. Rachmaninoff
„Symphonic Dances“ op. 45
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3
Cantata „Spring“
M. Ravel
Pavana
Rhapsody for violin and orchestra
G. Rossini
„Stabat Mater“
N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Symphonic poem „Sadko“
G. Rossini
„Stabat Mater“
A. Salieri
Symphony in D major for chamber orchestra
R. Shchedrin
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
A. Schnittke
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 3
A. Schönberg
Oratorio „Gurre Lieder“
„Pelleas and Melisande“
F. Schubert
„Stabat Mater“
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 8
R. Schumann
Concerto for piano and orchestra op. 54
A. Scriabin
Concerto for piano and orchestra
J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 1
Symphony No. 7
„The Swan of Tuonela“
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D minor, op. 47
D. Shostakovich
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1, op. 35
Symphony No. 13
Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 7 „Leningrad“
A. Spendiarov
„Yerevan etudes“
R. Strauss
Burleske for piano and orchestra in D minor
„Also Spra Zarathustra“
I. Stravinsky
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major
J. Swendsen
Icelandic melody op. 30
G. Sviridov
„Pathetic oratorio“
K. Szymanowski
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 1
Ph. Telemann
Sonata for violin and oboe
G. Verdi
„Requiem“
P. Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 4 in F minor, op. 36
Symphony No. 5, op. 64
Symphony No. 6
Variations on Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, op. 33
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major, op. 35
„Romeo and Juliet“, overture-fantasy
R. Wagner
Opera's „Rienzi“ overture
Opera's „Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg“ overture
Lithuanian Composers
V. Bagdonas
Concerto for piano and orchestra
O. Balakauskas
„By the Blue Flower, cycle for chamber choir and instrumental ensemble
Second Symphony
„Sonata of the Mountains“ for piano and orchestra
Concerto for oboe, harpsichord and strings
E. Balsys
Cantata „Bearing the Sun"
Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 2
J. Bašinskas
Cantata „Tale About Soldier's Bread“
A. Bražinskas
Cantata „In the Land of Brothers Giant“
A. Budriūnas
„Autumn“, for choir and orchestra
M. K. Čiurlionis
„In the Forest“
B. Dvarionas
„By the Amber Shore", Festive Overture
Concerto for violin and orchestra
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1
J. Gruodis
Variacijos liaudies temomis
„From Lithuania's Past“, Symphonic Poem
Funeral March from Vincas Krėvė's play „Šarūnas“
Symphonic picture „Autumn“
Symphonic Variations
B. Gorbulskis
Chamber concerto for violin and orchestra
J. Juozapaitis
Vocal symphony „Ancestors' Word“
J. Juzeliūnas
Symphony No. 3 „Man's Lyre“
Vocal symphony poem „Lullaby of the Ashes“
V. Laurušas
„Stormy Petrel“, Symphonic Poem
V. Montvila
„Gothic Poem“
J. Pakalnis
Romance Overture
A. Rekašius
Autocollage No.2
A. Šenderovas
Chamber Pictures for symphony orchestra
„Feast“
S. Vainiūnas
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 in E flat major, op. 15
Concerto for violin and orchestra in F major
Glee
Symphony in C sharp minor
Rhapsody for violin and orchestra
J. Tamulionis
„Songs of Heavenly Birds“ for string orchestra
„Toccata diavolesca“ for string orchestra
“Aleksa is a musician of great erudition, one of the most interesting conductors in Europe or even the world. I believe, his life as a conductor could have been different, but he chose the path of decency, lived in music exclusively, did not care for recognition and thus earned little acknowledgement. The professor used to say, that the recognition should come via music and not in any other way. On the other hand, his career was impeded by unfavourable political situation and closed borders, and when they opened his health did not allow him to accept important offers. This kind of dedication to work is an example to me.”
(Julius Geniušas. “And my greatest thanks goes to the opera composer…”)
