The e-booklet

The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre begins its 107th season with an exceptional world premiere! This is a work born from the concept of the legendary director Robert Wilson; unfortunately, fate did not allow time for it to be realized on stage. One of the most famous Lithuanian composers Žibuoklė Martinaitytė currently lives in New York, but gives her work to the whole world, just as R. Wilson used to do. She created the music for her first opera after long conversations with the director – the whole piece is based on his ideas, and the music in turn inspired R. Wilson's new visions. Upside Down, which tells about a journey into the world, is inspired by Inuit poetry, arctic cold, snow and ice, images of purity and whiteness, as if stating: everything has two sides, this side and the upside down, and you can never be sure which one you see, which is the real one... R. Wilson's team of like-minded professionals, who are staging the opera at the LNOBT, interpret the hints he expressed, and at the same time create their own production. According to director Nicola Panzer, this work is like a collage of diverse experiences, put together on a journey of world knowledge, often reciting internal monologues within themselves. The opera features fragments of English, Inuit, Lithuanian languages, poetry, myths and legends. In this world premiere of the opera Upside Down, an unexpected journey full of discoveries awaits all of us. ✓ Surtitles in Lithuanian and English Premiere: 18 September 2026

La Fille mal gardée is a comic ballet and one of the oldest and most important works in the modern ballet repertoire, having been kept alive throughout its long performance history by way of many revivals. This version is one of the most vibrant and joyous works of the English choreographer Frederick Ashton, which premiered at the Royal Ballet of London in 1960. The notable French choreographer Jean Dauberval’s 1789 work served as a source of inspiration for Ashton’s ballet, with Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold’s score, arranged by John Lanchbery. This gleeful story of pastoral love continues to delight admirers of the refined art of ballet all around the world. Premiere: 16 May 2025

Don Giovanni – this is an opera permeated with death. The Commendatore’s killing is only the beginning; Anna contemplates taking her own life, Ottavio says he is willing to sacrifice his life to avenge her, Leporello is almost killed, Masetto is almost killed, we are fearful for Zerlina… and of course, the death which is the long-awaited climax of the opera is that of Don Giovanni himself. His death becomes inevitable and even desirable. He chooses death, hell even, over denial of who he is. His death is an expression of order reasserting itself over the individualistic threat of total, unrestrained liberty. All trace of him is wiped away. [...] John Fulljames, Director