The LNOBT chorus started its life together with the theatre in 1920 (Verdi's "La Traviata") and became the first professional chorus in Lithuania. The first leader of the chorus was Julius Štarka. At the present time there are 80 persons in the Lithuanian Opera Chorus (40 female and 40 male voices). The chorus takes part in all the opera productions of the theatre. Its repertory includes 50 opera scores: Musorgsky's "Boris Godunov", Verdi's "Nabucco", "Il Trovatore", "Aida", Weber's "Der Freischutz", Strauss' "Der Zigeunerbaron", Klova's "Pilenai", Wagner's "Tanhauser", Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", etc.

The repertory of the chorus includes grand musical compositions for chorus, as Verdi's "Requiem", Orff's "Carmina burana". Lately the chorus gives independent concerts too. It performs works like Dvorak's "Requiem" (the first performance in Lithuania), Puccini's "Messa di Gloria", Bach's "St. Mark Passions" (the first performance in Lithuania), Schubert's "Stabat Mater", etc. The chorus also took part at the Haydn - Schubert's festival, in the common Ponchielli "I Lituani" production of Lithuanian Opera of Chicago and LNOBT. It performs in several ballet productions too, such as Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe", Theodoraki's "Zorba the Greek", Mendelssohn - Bartholdy's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". During the LNOBT's tour in Chicago and Germany, the chorus gave its independent concerts of musical compositions for chorus. It is worth while mentioning concerts of the chorus in the Monastery in Pažaislis and in the Cathedral Square in Vilnius, the concert performance of Verdi's "Nabucco", of Puccini's "Turandot" at the festival in Trakai, the performance of Verdi's "Requiem", dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the LNOBT. The Chorus performs every evening either in a rehearsal or in a performance.

ČESLOVAS RADŽIŪNAS - Chief Chorus Master

Since 1989 the Chorus of Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre is lead by the chief chorus master and conductor Česlovas Radžiūnas (in 1976 - 1985 he was chorus master of the chorus). Česlovas Radžiūnas (b. 1955) graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1977 and in 1984 he finished work on probation and post-graduate course in Moscow (operatic conducting). He was the leader of the Vilnius Self - government Symphony Orchestra "Vilnius" and of many other amateur choirs. Since 1985 he is an associate professor at LMA. In 1985 - 1989 he was the leader of the chamber chorus of LMA. Then the chorus became the winner of the International Competitions in Italy, France and Spain. Together with the Opera chorus Česlovas Radžiūnas has prepared over 40 opera opening nights, 7 works of vocal - symphonic genre.

Lately the press often emphasizes the high artistic standard of the chorus, praises it for the premieres. The Lithuanian Opera Chorus has performed under the batons of many famous Lithuanian conductors, like J. Aleksa, V. Viržonis, M. Staškus, G. Rinkevičius, J. Domarkas, R. Geniušas, J. Geniušas, L. Balčiūnas, etc.