Registration REQUIRED by 4pm on April 15, 2025 in order to attend this event.

Please join the Harriman Institute, the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York for a panel discussion and concert.

The year 2025 marks a significant date in Lithuanian cultural history: the 150th anniversary of the birth of the esteemed artist, composer, and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911). Over the decades, his legacy has continued to captivate contemporary curators, writers, and art critics, particularly his visionary fusions of sound, color, and symbolism. Living through an era of emerging European national identities, he envisioned a future where Lithuanian folklore would be woven into a broader artistic utopia, drawing on the concept of musica mundana—the music of the spheres—to integrate the cosmic and the earthly. Čiurlionis’ artistic explorations have resonated beyond Lithuania, influencing generations of artists internationally. Notably, the distinguished French composer Olivier Messiaen (1908–1991) and Vytautas Bacevičius, who expressed profound admiration for Čiurlonis.

To commemorate this occasion, the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York, and the Harriman Institute at Columbia University present a panel discussion and concert, which will not only commemorate Čiurlionis’ work, but will also reveal the ongoing relevance of his artistic legacy. His work remains deeply intertwined with late 19th and early 20th century artistic movements, particularly Symbolism. This event aims to shed light on the enduring significance of his ideas in contemporary creative and academic discourse. During the discussion, a selection of piano works by Olivier Messiaen, Vytautas Bacevičius, and Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis will be performed by a prominent Lithuanian pianist residing in New York, Gabrielius Alekna. The event will be moderated by Kristupas Bubnelis (Composer and DMA Candidate in Composition, Columbia University).