A new monograph „Ugnis ir tikėjimas. Lietuvos istorija ir mitologija operos scenoje“ (“Fire and Faith: Lithuanian History and Mythology on the Opera Stage”) has been published, dedicated to the reflections of Lithuanian history and mythology in opera. The book provides a comprehensive and intriguing account of how Lithuanian historical events, legends and mythological motifs have been interpreted on the opera stage in different parts of the world at different times.
The authors of the monograph — Helmutas Šabasevičius, Rūta Stanevičiūtė, Jūratė Katinaitė, and Daiva Šabasevičienė — have identified as many as 67 operas that feature Lithuanian themes. These works were created from the early 18th century to the present day in Italy, Poland, Russia, Germany, France, the United States, Australia, and other countries.
The publication covers a broad historical period — from Alessandro Scarlatti’s opera-oratorio “San Casimiro, rè di Polonia” to Constantine Koukias’s opera „Olegas“, staged in Tasmania. By analyzing these works, the authors reveal how Lithuanian history, mythology, and their symbolic meanings were interpreted on the opera stage across different periods and cultural contexts.
This monograph contributes to a broader exploration of Lithuania’s cultural heritage and its representation in the international musical context, opening up new perspectives for the study of opera history, cultural memory, and mythological narratives.