On 27 March, on the occasion of International Theatre Day, LNOBT brought some joy to its colleagues theatre workers and musicians in Vilnius by giving them 200 protective masks sewn at the theatre.
The premiere of Gaetano Donizetti's opera “Anna Bolena”, which was co-produced by Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre and Rome Opera Theatre, was postponed to late August due to protracted global quarantine. So instead of gorgeous dresses, the theatre's sewing tables nowadays are abundant with freshly sewn, washable light blue face masks, that have been thoroughly steamed. Of course, they are not designed for the stage, but rather for the protection of the human being from the cruel coronavirus that currently holds the whole world hostage.
“We understand that today it is the most valuable gift, which can possibly save someone’s life. As we share our masks with colleagues, we want to encourage them to maintain a strong spirit and creative ambitions, and to withstand the difficult challenges thrown at cultural institutions around the world. We believe that there will be many new performances and concerts soon, and for the time being we wish to remain strong in the spirit, ” – said Jonas Sakalauskas, the general manager of the LNOBT.
This year, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre was set to host the “Golden Cross of the Stage” awards ceremony, which has been postponed due to global quarantine and will be unveiled once artists and eager spectators are be able to return to theatres safely.
