Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius is notable for the architecture of its Old Town, considered one of the largest and best-preserved old towns of Europe. Vilnius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The architectural style known as Vilnian Baroque is named after the city, which is the easternmost Baroque city and the largest north of the Alps.
The city was already noted for its multicultural population in the time of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with contemporary sources comparing it to Babylon. Before World War II and the Holocaust, Vilnius was one of the most important Jewish centers in Europe. Its Jewish influence has led to its nickname "the Jerusalem of Lithuania". Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North" as he passed through in 1812.
In 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with Linz in Austria. In 2021, Vilnius was named one of fDi's 25 Global Cities of the Future. Vilnius is considered one of the major world financial centres, ranked 76th globally and 29th in Europe, according to the Global Financial Centres Index. In 2023, Vilnius hosted the 2023 NATO Summit. Vilnius is a member of Eurocities and the Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).
Etymology and other names
The name of the city originates from the Vilnia River, from the Lithuanian word for ripple. The city has also had many derivative spellings in various languages throughout its history: Vilna was once common in English. The most notable non-Lithuanian names for the city include Latin: Vilna, Polish: Wilno, Belarusian: Вiльня (Vilnia), German: Wilna, Latvian: Viļņa, Ukrainian: Вільно (Vilno), Yiddish: ווילנע (Vilne). A Russian name from the time of the Russian Empire was Вильна (Vilna), although Вильнюс (Vilnyus) is now used. The names Wilno, Wilna, and Vilna were also used in older English, German, French, and Italian language publications when the city was one of the capitals of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and an important city in the Second Polish Republic. The name Vilna is still used in Finnish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Hebrew: וילנה. Wilna is still used in German, along with Vilnius.
According to legend, that is presumed to be recorded c. 1530s, Grand Duke Gediminas (c. 1275–1341) had been hunting in the sacred forest near the Valley of Šventaragis, near where the Vilnia River flows into the Neris River. With the successful hunt for a wisent having lasted longer than expected, the Grand Duke decided to settle in for the night in the valley. He fell soundly asleep and dreamed of a huge Iron Wolf standing at the top of a hill, howling as strongly and loudly as a hundred wolves. Upon awakening, the Duke asked the krivis (pagan priest) Lizdeika to interpret the dream. The priest told him:
What is destined for the ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall echo throughout the world.
Therefore, Gediminas, obeying the will of the gods, built two castles - the Lower Castle in the valley, and the Crooked Castle on the Bald Hill. He moved his court there, declaring the place his permanent seat and capital, transformed the vicinities around into a city, to which he gave the name Vilnius, after the Vilnia River.
History
Vilnius has an extensive history starting from the Stone Age. The city has changed hands many times between Imperial and Soviet Russia, Napoleonic France, Imperial and Nazi Germany, Interwar Poland, and Lithuania.
Initially a Baltic settlement, Vilnius became a significant city under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city was first mentioned in written sources in 1323 in letters by Grand Duke Gediminas, who invited Jews and Germans to settle and built a wooden castle on a hill. Vilnius gained city rights in 1387 after the Christianization of Lithuania and grew as craftsmen and merchants from various nationalities settled in the city. Vilnius was the head of the Grand Duchy until 1795, and during the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Under the Commonwealth, Vilnius flourished, especially after the establishment of Vilnius University by King Stephen Báthory in 1579. The city became a major cultural and scientific center, attracting migrants from both the East and West. It was marked by diverse communities, including Jewish, Orthodox, and German populations. The city experienced significant growth and development, though it faced numerous invasions and occupations, including by the Teutonic Knights, Russia, and later, Germany.
During the Russian Empire's rule, Vilnius became the capital of Vilna Governorate and saw various cultural revivals. The 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by national revivals among Jews, Poles, Lithuanians, and Belarusians. After World War I, Vilnius was often the site of conflict, between Poland and Lithuania, leading to its temporary occupation by Poland, before being annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II. Following the war, Vilnius became the capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Independence
On 11 March 1990, the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR announced its secession from the Soviet Union and intention to restore an independent Lithuania. As a result, on 9 January 1991, the Soviet Union sent in troops. This culminated in the 13 January attack on the State Radio and Television Building, and the Vilnius TV Tower, killing at least 14 civilians. The Soviet Union finally recognised Lithuanian independence in September 1991. The Constitution notes that "the capital of the State of Lithuania shall be the city of Vilnius, the long-standing historical capital of Lithuania".
Vilnius has emerged as a modern European city. Its territory was expanded through three different acts since 1990, amalgamating urban territories, villages, hamlets, and prominently the city of Grigiškės. Most historic buildings have been renovated, and a business and commercial area developed into the New City Centre, the main administrative and business district on the north side of the Neris river. This area includes modern residential and retail space, with the municipality building and the 148.3 m (487 ft) Europa Tower as its most prominent buildings. The construction of Swedbank's headquarters is symbolic of the importance of Scandinavian banks in Vilnius. The building complex Vilnius Business Harbour has been built and expanded. More than 75,000 new flats were built between 1995-2018, making Vilnius a leader in the construction sector in the Baltics.
Vilnius was selected as a 2009 European Capital of Culture, along with Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. The The 2007–2008 financial crisis led to a drop in tourism, which prevented many projects from reaching their planned extent. Allegations of corruption and incompetence were made against the organisers, while tax increases for cultural activity led to protests and economic conditions sparked riots. On 28–29 November 2013, Vilnius hosted the Eastern Partnership Summit in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Many European presidents, prime ministers, and other high-ranking officials participated. In 2015 Remigijus Šimašius became the first directly elected mayor of the city. The 2023 NATO summit was held in Vilnius.
Geography
Vilnius is located at the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris rivers in southeastern Lithuania. Several countries claim that the geographical centre of Europe is located in their territories. Its location depends on which arbitrary definition of the extent of Europe is chosen; the Guinness Book of World Records recognises a point near Vilnius as the continent's centre. After a re-estimation of the boundaries of the continent in 1989, Jean-George Affholder, a scientist at the Institut Géographique National (French National Geographic Institute), determined that its geographic centre was located at 54°54′N 25°19′E / 54.900°N 25.317°E. The method used for calculating this point was that of the centre of gravity of the geometrical figure of Europe. This point is located in Lithuania, near the village of Girija (26 kilometres from Vilnius). A monument, composed by the sculptor Gediminas Jokūbonis and consisting of a column of white granite surmounted by a crown of stars, was erected at the location in 2004.
Vilnius lies 312 km (194 mi) from the Baltic Sea and Klaipėda, the chief Lithuanian seaport. Vilnius is connected by highways to other major Lithuanian cities, such as Kaunas (102 km or 63 mi away), Šiauliai (214 km or 133 mi away) and Panevėžys (135 km or 84 mi away).
The area of Vilnius is 402 km (155 sq mi). Buildings occupy 29.1% of the city; green spaces occupy 68.8%; and waters occupy 2.1%.
Nature reserves
Vilnius has eight protected nature reserves: Vokės Senslėnio Slopes Geomorphological Reserve, Aukštagiris Geomorphological Reserve, Valakupių Klonio Geomorphological Reserve, Veržuva Hydrographic Reserve, Vokė Hydrographic Reserve, Cedronas Upstream Landscape Reserve, Tapeliai Landscape Reserve and Šeškinė Slopes Geomorphological Reserve.
Climate
The climate of Vilnius is humid continental (Köppen climate classification Dfb). Temperature records have been kept since 1777. The average annual temperature is7.3 °C (45 °F); in January, the average temperature is −3.9 °C (25 °F), in July, it is 18.7 °C (66 °F). The average precipitation is about 691 mm (27.20 in) per year. Average annual temperatures in the city have increased significantly during the last 30 years, a change which the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service attributes to global warming induced by human activities.
Summer days are warm and sometimes hot, especially in July and August, with temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) throughout the day during periodic heat waves. Outdoor bars, restaurants and cafés are widely frequented during the daytime.
Winters can be very cold, with temperatures rarely reaching above freezing – temperatures below −25 °C (−13 °F) may occur in January and February. Vilnius's rivers freeze over in particularly cold winters, and the lakes surrounding the city are almost always permanently frozen during this time of year. A popular pastime is ice-fishing.
The Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service is headquartered in Vilnius and monitors climate of Vilnius and Lithuania.
Climate data for Vilnius (1991–2020 normals, sun 1961–1990, extremes 1777–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
24.7 (76.5) |
29.0 (84.2) |
31.8 (89.2) |
34.2 (93.6) |
36.4 (97.5) |
34.9 (94.8) |
33.1 (91.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
36.4 (97.5) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 4.9 (40.8) |
5.7 (42.3) |
13.1 (55.6) |
22.4 (72.3) |
26.7 (80.1) |
28.8 (83.8) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.3 (86.5) |
25.4 (77.7) |
18.3 (64.9) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.1 (43.0) |
32.1 (89.8) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.4 (39.9) |
12.6 (54.7) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.1 (73.6) |
17.4 (63.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
11.2 (52.2) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.9 (25.0) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
0.9 (33.6) |
7.6 (45.7) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
17.9 (64.2) |
13.0 (55.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
7.3 (45.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.9 (21.4) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
2.6 (36.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
12.7 (54.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | −19.3 (−2.7) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−10.8 (12.6) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
0.1 (32.2) |
4.9 (40.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.1 (34.0) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
−14.1 (6.6) |
−22.0 (−7.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −37.2 (−35.0) |
−35.8 (−32.4) |
−29.6 (−21.3) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
0.1 (32.2) |
3.5 (38.3) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−22.8 (−9.0) |
−30.5 (−22.9) |
−37.2 (−35.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38.9 (1.53) |
34.4 (1.35) |
37.0 (1.46) |
46.2 (1.82) |
52.1 (2.05) |
72.7 (2.86) |
79.3 (3.12) |
75.8 (2.98) |
65.2 (2.57) |
51.5 (2.03) |
51.5 (2.03) |
49.2 (1.94) |
653.8 (25.74) |
Average precipitation days | 21.7 | 18.4 | 17.5 | 10.2 | 12.4 | 11.7 | 11.4 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 21.2 | 174.9 |
Average dew point °C (°F) | −5 (23) |
−5 (23) |
−3 (27) |
1 (34) |
6 (43) |
10 (50) |
13 (55) |
12 (54) |
9 (48) |
4 (39) |
0 (32) |
−3 (27) |
3 (38) |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 37 | 70 | 117 | 165 | 242 | 231 | 220 | 217 | 141 | 93 | 33 | 25 | 1,591 |
Average ultraviolet index | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Source: WMO (avg high and low) NOAA (sun, extremes, and mean temperatures), Météo Climat, Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985–2015) and Weather Atlas |
Culture
This section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience.(June 2024) |
Painting and sculpture
For centuries, Vilnius was an art centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and attracted artists from across Europe. The oldest works of art that remain from the early Gothic period (14th century) are paintings dedicated to churches and liturgy (e.g., frescoes in the Crypts of Vilnius Cathedral and decorated hymn books). Wall paintings from the 16th century, such as in the Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard vaults or in the Church of Saint Nicholas, have been found in Vilnius. Gothic wooden polychrome sculptures decorate the altars of the churches in Vilnius. Some Gothic seals from the 14–15th centuries in Vilnius still exist today, including those of Kęstutis, Vytautas the Great and Sigismund II Augustus.
In the early 16th century, Renaissance sculpture appeared, mostly created by the Italian sculptors Bernardinus Zanobi da Gianotti, Giovani Cini, and Giovanni Maria Padovano. In the Renaissance period, portrait tombstones and medals were highly valued (e.g., the marble tombs of Albertas Goštautas, 1548, and of Paweł Holszański, 1555, by Bernardino de Gianotis, both located in the Vilnius Cathedral). The work of the Italian sculptors is characterized by naturalistic treatment of forms, precise proportions, tectonicity, and realistic representation of the deceased. Local sculptors took over only the iconographic scheme of the Renaissance tomb; their works (e.g., the tomb of Lew Sapieha, ca. 1633, at the Church of St. Michael) are characterized by conditionality of forms and stylization. During this period, local and Western European painters created religious and mythological compositions and portraits that were intertwined with late Gothic and Baroque features. Illustrated prayer books, illustrations and miniatures have survived.
In the Baroque period that began in the late 16th century, wall painting blossomed in the city. Most palaces and churches were decorated with frescoes with bright colors, sophisticated angles, and dramatism style. Also during this period, secular painting spread—representational, imaginative, epitaph portraits, scenes of battles, and politically important events. It was characterized by a detailed, realistic style. This period's sculptures dominated the sacred architecture (tombstones with sculptural portraits, exterior and interior decorative sculptures), made of wood, marble, and stucco. Italian sculptors like G. P. Perti, G. M. Galli, and A. S. Capone were exceptionally important in the development of sculpture in the 17th-century Grand Duchy and were invited by the Lithuanian nobility. Their works are characterized by the features of mature baroque: expressive forms, sensuality, and atectonic composition (e.g., the sculptural decor of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul). Local sculptors emphasized the decorative features of the baroque, and the expressiveness and emotionality of the baroque was less characteristic in their works.
In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Lithuanian painting was largely influenced by the Vilnius Art School, which introduced Classical art and Romanticism. The painters had internships abroad, mainly in Italy. Painting of allegorical, mythological compositions, landscapes, and portraits of representatives of various circles of society began; historical themes prevailed. The most famous Classicism painters from this time are Franciszek Smaglewicz, Jan Rustem, Józef Oleszkiew, Daniel Kondratowicz , Józef Peszka, Wincenty Smokowski. While Romantic art is characterized by Jan Rustem, Jan Krzysztof Damel, Wincenty Dmochowski and Kanuty Rusiecki works. After the closure of Vilnius University in 1832, the artistic direction formed by the representatives of the Vilnius Art School influenced the further development of Lithuanian art.
Development of art in the first half of the 20th century was promoted by activities and exhibitions of the Lithuanian Art Society, established in 1907 by Petras Rimša, Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, Antanas Jaroševičius, and Vilnius Art Society, established in 1908. This period is characterized by Jonas Šileika, Justinas Vienožinskis , Jonas Mackevičius (1872) , Vytautas Kairiūkštis, Vytautas Pranas Bičiūnas works. They continued the traditions of Western European styles (symbolism, realism, art nouveau) and followed the modernism art directions. Although, after World War II the method of socialist realism was introduced: propaganda paintings, compositions of historical and household genres, still lifes, landscapes, portraits and sculptures.
The most notable late 20th and 21st century Vilnian painters are Žygimantas Augustinas, Eglė Ridikaitė, Eglė Gineitytė, Patricija Jurkšaitytė, Jurga Barilaitė, Solomonas Teitelbaumas.
The Užupis district near the Old Town, which used to be one of the more run-down districts of Vilnius during the Soviet era, is home to a movement of bohemian artists, who operate numerous art galleries and workshops. Užupis declared itself an independent republic on April Fool's Day in 1997. In the main square, the statue of an angel blowing a trumpet stands as a symbol of artistic freedom.
In 1995, the world's first bronze cast of Frank Zappa was installed in the Naujamiestis district with the permission of the government. The Frank Zappa sculpture confirmed the newly found freedom of expression and marked the beginning of a new era for Lithuanian society.
In 2015, the project of Vilnius Talking Statues was realized. Eighteen statues around Vilnius interact with visitors in multiple languages by a telephone call to a smartphone.
Museums and galleries
Vilnius has many museums of different kinds. The National Museum of Lithuania has departments in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Gediminas' Tower, the old and new arsenals of the Vilnius Castle Complex, and exhibits expositions about the history of Lithuania and Lithuanian ethnic culture. The Museum of Applied Arts and Design exhibits Lithuanian folk sacral and other religious artworks, findings of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, authentic clothing from the 18th–20th centuries, and holds temporary exhibitions. Other notable museums include Vilnius Museum, House of Histories exhibition space, Church Heritage Museum, Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, Fight for Freedom Museum in the Vilnius TV Tower, M. K. Čiurlionis House, Samuel Bak Museum, Centre for Civil Education, Toy Museum, Vilnil (Museum of Illusions), Energy and Technology Museum, House of Signatories, Tolerance Center, Railway Museum, Money Museum, Kazys Varnelis House-Museum, Liubavas Manor Watermill-Museum, Museum of Vladislovas Sirokomlė, Amber Museum – Gallery, Visitors Information Centre of the Paneriai Memorial, etc.
Many prominent art galleries are located in Vilnius. Lithuania's largest art collection is housed in the Lithuanian Art Museum. One branch of it, the Vilnius Picture Gallery in the Vilnius Old Town, houses a collection of Lithuanian art from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century. On the other side of the Neris, the National Art Gallery holds a permanent exhibition on Lithuanian 20th-century art as well as numerous exhibitions on modern art. The Contemporary Art Centre is the largest venue for contemporary art in the Baltic States, with an exhibition space of 2400 square meters. The centre is a non-collection-based institution committed to developing a broad range of international and Lithuanian exhibition projects as well as presenting a wide range of public programs, including lectures, seminars, performances, film and video screenings, and live music events. On November 10, 2007, the Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center was opened by avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas with its premiere exhibition entitled The Avant-Garde: From Futurism to Fluxus. In 2018, the MO Museum was opened and is a personal initiative of Lithuanian scientists and philanthropists Danguolė and Viktoras Butkus. Its collection of 5000 modern and contemporary pieces contains major Lithuanian artworks from the 1950s to this day.
Literature
In about 1520, Francysk Skaryna, who is the author of the first Ruthenian Bible, established a printing house in Vilnius—the first in eastern Europe. In 1522, he prepared and published the first printed book of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, titled the Little Traveller's Book (Ruthenian language: Малая подорожная книжка). In 1525, he printed the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles (the Apostle).
The Vilnius Academy Press was established in 1575 by the Lithuanian noble Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł as the printing house of the Vilnius Academy. He delegated the management of the printing house to the Jesuits. In May 1576, it published its first book, Pro Sacratissima Eucharistia contra haeresim Zwinglianam, by Piotr Skarga. The Vilnius Academy Press situation was exceptional because its activities were funded by the secular society, the Lithuanian nobility, and the Church. In 1805, Józef Zawadzki bought the Vilnius Academy Press and founded the Józef Zawadzki printing shop which continuously worked until 1939 and published books in multiple languages. The first poetry book of Adam Mickiewicz was published there in 1822.
One of the creators of Lithuanian writing, Mikalojus Daukša, translated and published the Catechism by Spanish Jesuit theologist Jacobo Ledesma in 1595 – this was the first printed Lithuanian language book in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He also translated and published Jakub Wujek's Postilla Catholica in 1599 (both in Vilnius).
Many famous writers were born in Vilnius, lived there, or are alumni of Vilnius University (e.g., Konstantinas Sirvydas, Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski, Antoni Gorecki, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Antoni Edward Odyniec, Michał Józef Römer, Adam Mickiewicz, Władysław Syrokomla, Józef Mackiewicz, Romain Gary, Juliusz Słowacki, Simonas Daukantas, Mykolas Biržiška, Petras Cvirka, Kazys Bradūnas, Nobel prize-winner Czesław Miłosz, Jurga Ivanauskaitė).
The first consideration of the First Statute of Lithuania took place in 1522 at the Seimas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Vilnius. The Statute of Lithuania has been drafted under the guidance of Grand Chancellor of Lithuania Albertas Goštautas and in accordance with the courts' jurisprudence formed by customary law, Heads of State legislation on certain matters, and the provisions of Canon canon law and Roman law regulations. It is the first official codification of this kind of secular law in Europe.
Lithuanian magnate Albertas Goštautas actively supported the Lithuanian language usage in the Lithuanian literature and protected Lithuanian authors, including Abraomas Kulvietis and Michael the Lithuanian, who criticised the usage of Old Slavonic church language and called refugees Old Believers as the Muscovian spies in his book De moribus tartarorum, lituanorum et moscorum.
Since the 16th century, the Lithuanian Metrica has been kept at the Lower Castle and safeguarded by the State Chancellor. Due to the deterioration of the books, the State Grand Chancellor, Lew Sapieha, ordered the volumes of the Metrica to be recopied in 1594. The recopying process continued until 1607. The newly recopied books were inventoried, rechecked, and transferred to a separate building in Vilnius, with the older books remaining in the Castle of Vilnius. According to the 1983 data, 665 books have remained until the nowadays and their microfilms are preserved at the Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius.
Over 200 tiles and commemorative plaques to writers, who have lived and worked in Vilnius and foreign authors who have shared a connection with Vilnius and Lithuania, adorn walls on Literatų Street (Lithuanian: Literatų gatvė) in the Old Town, presenting a broad overview of the history of Lithuanian literature.
The Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore and the Lithuanian Writers' Union are located in Vilnius.
The Vilnius book fair, the biggest book fair in the Baltic states, is annually held in Vilnius at LITEXPO, the Baltic's biggest exhibition centre.
Cinema
The first public film session in Vilnius was held in the Botanical Garden (now Bernardinai Garden) in July 1896. This event was held after some of the first film sessions by Auguste and Louis Lumière, held in Paris in 1895. The film session in Vilnius also showed the Lumière brothers' documentary movies. The first movies shown were educational; these were filmed in locations outside of Vilnius (e.g. India, Africa) and introduced different cultures to Vilnians. Georges Méliès' movie A Trip to the Moon was first shown in the non-stationary Lukiškės Square movie theater in 1902; it was the first feature film shown in Vilnius.
The first stationary movie theater in Vilnius, named Iliuzija (English: Illusion), was opened in 1905 and was located in Didžioji Street 60. The first movie theaters were similar to theatre buildings and had boxes with more expensive tickets. Also, because there was no sound in the first movies, the sessions were accompanied by live orchestra performances. On stage, cinema screenings were sometimes mixed with theatrical performances, illusion shows.
On 4 June 1924, the Vilnius Magistrate established a popular 1,200-seat movie theater in the city hall, which in Polish was called Miejski kinematograf (English: City Movie Theater). The purpose of this cinema was to provide cultural education for students and adults. In 1926, 502,261 tickets were sold, 24,242 tickets were given free to boarding children, and 778 tickets were given to tourists and 8,385 to soldiers. In 1939, the Lithuanian authorities renamed it to Milda. In 1940, the last city government handed over the premises to the People's Commissariat of Education, which established the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society there.
In 1965, the most modern movie theater in Lithuania, called Lietuva was opened in Vilnius, which annually had over 1.84 million visitors and a profit of over 1 million roubles. After the reconstruction, it had one of the largest screens in Europe (200 square metres). It was closed in 2002 and demolished in 2017. Eventually, MO Museum was built in its place.
Kino Pavasaris is the largest film festival in Vilnius.
The Lithuanian Film Centre (Lithuanian: Lietuvos kino centras), whose main task is to promote the development and competitiveness of the Lithuanian film industry, has its headquarters in Vilnius.
Music
Musicians were presented at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania as early as the 14th century, as Grand Duke Gediminas' daughter Aldona of Lithuania was known to be enthusiastic about music. Aldona took court musicians and singers with her to Kraków after marrying King Casimir III the Great. In the 16th century, composers such as Wacław of Szamotuły, Jan Brant, Heinrich Finck, Cyprian Bazylik, Alessandro Pesenti, Luca Marenzio, and Michelagnolo Galilei lived in Vilnius at some point in their lives. Vilnius was also home to the lutenist virtuoso Bálint Bakfark. One of the first local musicians known from written sources was Steponas Vilnietis (Stephanus de Vylna). The first textbook of Lithuanian music, The Art and Practice of Music (Latin: Ars et praxis musica) – was issued in Vilnius by Žygimantas Liauksminas in 1667.
Italian artists organized the first opera in Lithuania on 4 September 1636, at the Palace of the Grand Dukes, by the order of Grand Duke Władysław IV Vasa. Currently, operas are staged at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre and also by independent troupe Vilnius City Opera.
The Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society is the largest and oldest state-owned concert organization in Lithuania who organizes and coordinates live concerts and tours throughout Lithuania and abroad. The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, founded by Gintaras Rinkevičius, also performs in Vilnius.
In Lithuania, choral music is very important. Vilnius is the only city with three choir laureates (Brevis, Jauna Muzika, and the Chamber Choir of the Conservatoire) at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. Also, Dainų šventė (Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival) is a longstanding tradition in Vilnius. Since 1990, the festival has been organised every four years and summons roughly 30,000 singers and folk dancers of various professional levels and age groups from across the country to Vingis Park. In 2008, the Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival, along with its Latvian and Estonian counterparts, was inscribed as UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The jazz scene was known to be quite active in Vilnius. In 1970–71, the Ganelin/Tarasov/Chekasin trio would found Vilnius Jazz School. The most known annual jazz event of jazz in the city is the Vilnius Jazz Festival.
Gatvės muzikos diena (Street Music Day) gathers musicians of various genres annually in the streets of Vilnius.
Vilnius is the birthplace of many prominent music personalities: singers (e.g. Mariana Korvelytė – Moravskienė, Paulina Rivoli, Danielius Dolskis, Vytautas Kernagis, Algirdas Kaušpėdas, Andrius Mamontovas, Nomeda Kazlaus, Asmik Grigorian), composers (e.g. César Cui, Felix Yaniewicz, Maximilian Steinberg, Vytautas Miškinis, Onutė Narbutaitė), conductors (e.g. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla), musicians (e.g. Antoni Radziwiłł, Jascha Heifetz, Clara Rockmore, Romas Lileikis).
Vilnius was the hometown of such 18th-century composers as Michał Kazimierz Ogiński, Johann David Holland (colleague of C. Bach), Maciej Radziwiłł, Michał Kleofas Ogiński. 19th century Vilnius was famous for performers such as singer Kristina Gerhardi Frank, a close friend of Mozart and Haydn (who performed the main part at the premiere of The Creation by the latter), guitarist-virtuoso Marek Konrad Sokołowski, recognized as the best guitarist in Europe in the mid-19th century, and composer Stanisław Moniuszko, "the father of Polish national opera". The wealthiest woman in Vilnius in the early 19th century was singer Maria de Neri. In the early 20th century, Vilnius was the hometown of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Mikas Petrauskas, Juozas Tallat-Kelpša. Musicians of late 20th and early 21st centuries include Vyacheslav Ganelin, Petras Vyšniauskas, Petras Geniušas, Mūza Rubackytė, Alanas Chošnau, Marijonas Mikutavičius.
The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre is headquartered on Gediminas Avenue and also has its department at the Slushko Palace in Antakalnis. Many accomplished singers have lectured at the academy, including the internationally famous tenors Kipras Petrauskas and Virgilijus Noreika.
Theatre
Lithuanian Grand Dukes' entertainment at the castle, ruler's visits abroad and the honorable guests' arrival meetings etiquette had theatrical elements already since the 14th century (e.g. musicians' chapels of Gediminas and Władysław II Jagiełło). During the period of Sigismund III Vasa's residence in Vilnius (first half of the 17th century), English professional drama actors' troupes played in the royal manor. In 1635, Władysław IV Vasa established a professional opera theatre in the Lower Castle, where dramma per musica genre productions were performed with operas' librettos being written by Italian Virgilio Puccitelli. The performances were characterized by fundamental, luxurious scenography.
Between the 16th and 18th centuries there was a Jesuit's School Theatre in Lithuania. In 1570, the first performance was shown in Vilnius (comedy Hercules by S. Tucci). Baroque aesthetics prevailed in the Jesuit's School Theatre, but it also had Middle Ages retrospectives, Renaissance elements, Rococo motifs, and served an educational function. The performances were played in Latin, however elements of the Lithuanian language were also included in intermediates and prologues, and some of the works were Lithuanian-themed (e.g. plays dedicated to Algirdas, Mindaugas, Vytautas and other rulers of Lithuania).
In 1785, Wojciech Bogusławski established the city's first public theatre Vilnius City Theatre. The theatre was initially located in the Oskierka Palace, but later moved to the Radziwiłł Palace and the Vilnius Town Hall. Until 1845 the plays were performed in Polish, from 1845 in Polish and Russian and from 1864 only in Russian. After the ban on the Lithuanian language was lifted, the plays were also performed in Lithuanian. The theatre ceased to exist in 1914.
During the interwar, then part of Poland, Vilnius was famous for the most modern in the region experimental Reduta troupe and institute, led by Juliusz Osterwa. In Vilnius and the Vilnius Region, the performances by the Vilnius Lithuanian Stage Amateur Company (Lithuanian: Vilniaus lietuvių scenos mėgėjų kuopa), established in 1930 (later it was renamed to Vilnius's Lithuanian Theatre; professional theatre Vaidila), were shown. In 1945, it was merged to the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre.
After the USSR occupation of Lithuania in 1940, theatre became one of the means of disseminating the Soviet ideology and censorship of repertoires was introduced. The performances incorporated the principles of socialist realism and a number of revolutionary plays were staged by the Russian authors. A Repertory Commission was established under the Ministry of Culture to direct theatres, control their repertoires, grant permissions to perform or ban performances. Socialist realism was the only recognized direction.
After the restoration of independence of Lithuania, theatre changed cardinally and sought to recreate a broken dialogue with spectators. Vilnius City Opera, an independent opera theatre in Vilnius, blends classical with contemporary art. While the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, State Small Theatre of Vilnius, State Youth Theatre and a number of private theatre companies, including OKT / Vilnius City Theatre, Anželika Cholina Dance Theatre and others, show classical, modern and Lithuanian playwriting directed by world-known Lithuanian and foreign directors. There is also the Russian-language Old Theatre of Vilnius.
Photography
The beginning of Lithuanian photography is considered to be the daguerreotyping of the reconstructed Verkiai Palace, which was performed in the summer of 1839 by François Marcillac, the governor of the children of Duke Ludwig Wittgenstein, this fact is mentioned in the memoirs of architect Bolesław Podczaszyński published in January 1853 in the Gazeta Warszawska newspaper. The unfavorable political situation in the country led to the slow development of new technology and cultural activities. The first known daguerreotype portrait atelier in Vilnius was opened in 1843 by C. Ziegler; such ateliers operated in Lithuania until 1859. One of the most famous photographers was K. Neupert, who came from Norway (since 1851 he worked in Vilnius and Druskininkai).
In the 1860s with the spread of negative and positive collodion technology, glass negatives and albumen paper were used instead of daguerreotype plates, photo portraits of standardized formats became widespread and commercial photography ateliers were established in Vilnius and other Lithuanian cities. The first landscape and architectural photographs were created by Vilnius photographers Abdonas Korzonas and Albert Swieykowski, who compiled the first set of photographs in Lithuania – the Vilnius Album (32 images). In 1862, the Provisional Censorship Regulations were adopted, which determined the activities of photographic institutions; they were supervised by the Central Press Board of the Ministry of the Interior. Photographers ateliers (4 of 9) who participated in the January Uprising and photographed the rebels were closed, their images were annihilated and the authors were punished (e.g. A. Korzonas was deported to Siberia). Other prominent photographers of the 19th century were Stanisław Filibert Fleury (one of the pioneers of stereoscopic photography), Aleksander Władysław Strauss, Józef Czechowicz.
One of the most important facts about the use of photography for scientific purposes is the second photoheliograph in the world (the first was in London), which was installed in 1865 at the Vilnius University Astronomical Observatory, which was used to observe and photograph the sunspots. Since 1868, for the first time in the world, a systematic photographic service of sunspots dynamics was launched in Vilnius.
In 1927, Jan Bułhak in Vilnius established the first photography club in the present territory of Lithuania.
In 1952, the editorial office of Švyturys magazine organized the first photography exhibition in Vilnius, the main object of which was photography itself (16 photographers participated).