This piano concerto is united by the theme of France - its cultural influences, musical connections and the intertwining of composers' works. The programme will be performed by pianist Onutė Gražinytė, who will invite the audience to immerse themselves in a subtle and diverse musical world. The concert will feature music not only by well-known French composers, but also by those whose life or work has been closely linked to this country.

The concert will begin with the Czech composer Vitezslava Kapralova's Preludes - short, picturesque pieces that blend elements of impressionism, modernism and folk music. Next will be variations by the contemporary composer Marc-André Hamelin, based on a 16th century French melody, followed by variations by the French neoclassicist Francis Poulenc. This is an opportunity to reflect on and compare how two composers from different periods interpret and develop quite similar themes. And perhaps to look at what unites them?

Fans of Romantic music will hear one of the most striking works of the period, Chopin's First Ballade, which combines lyricism, drama and virtuosity. The concert programme also includes Olivier Messiaen's Preludes, in which music is closely linked to the world of colour, as well as Igor Stravinsky's piano version of The Firebird - an energetic, expressive and dynamic composition that opens up a colourful musical landscape.

The whole programme is a multifaceted look at the French cultural world, the influence of French music and its links with literature, tradition, colour and movement: from transformations of old melodies to modern experiments, from romantic storytelling to expressive dance, each piece reveals in its own way the spirit of the times and the limitlessness of artistic expression!