XVI INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL “POKROVSKIE KOLOKOLA” IN VILNIUS
The Sixteenth International Folklore Festival “Pokrovskie Kolokola” will take place in Vilnius on November 10th-14th. Just as the trees are decorated with frost during the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in honor of which the festival is named, so the Lithuanian capital is decorated with a mosaic of folk music, enticing the guardians of the faith without which traditional culture cannot live and develop.
For sixteen years, the festival has colorfully presented the culture of various countries. The warmest memories of Lithuania were taken to their countries by participants from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Poland, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Russia, as well as its republics - Adygea, Altai Krai, Kalmykia, Kabalda-Balkaria, Udmurtia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Komi, Tyva, Marij-El, Yakutia, etc.
This year, after the most difficult period of the pandemic, the festival will delight its listeners by presenting groups from Lithuania, Bulgaria, Sakartvelo, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Norway and Ukraine. Lithuanian folklore groups of Lithuanian national minorities, who preserve the traditions of their nation while living in a foreign language environment, will take part in the unique celebration and make it even more unique. This is not an easy task and that’s why such ensembles and their leaders deserve support and respect. Lithuanian ensembles from various parts of Lithuania will also take part in the festival.
An interesting, rich and diverse program awaits participants and spectators this year. The events will take place in the best concert halls and historical places of Vilnius - the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, St. Catherine's Church, Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Vilnius City Hall and Orthodox Cathedral of the Theotokos
“Pokrovskie Kolokola” is the only festival in the Baltic States that annually commissions the most famous Lithuanian and foreign composers today to make works in the style of world music. In order to broaden the circle of fans of folk traditions as well as to keep folklore close and understandable to the younger generation, the organizers decided to combine old spiritual values with expressive modern musical language. For many years, this idea has been supported by the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, the Lithuanian Culture Council, and Vilnius City Municipality. The festival already presented the following music pieces: A.Doynikov “Ethnosphere – a New Breath of Traditions“, G. Rimkus Rimkevičius “Folk Rhapsody ”, J. Jurkūnas “From This City ”, “Old faith” and “The Female Song” by L.Rimša, “The Saga of Life” by A. Martinaitis, “Collages” by Z. Bružaite, “Dedication ” by A.Šenderov, “The mass of the starling” by L.Vilkončius, „There was a day“  by L. Rimša, G. Venislovas, J. Jasinskis. This year, the concert at the beginning of the festival will once again present the premiere to the audience.


10th November, Wednesday
Vilnius University, Faculty of History (Universiteto str. 3)
15.00 CONFERENCE OF YOUNG FOLKLORISTS “MY FAMILY – MY ROOTS”

11th November, Thursday
Lithuanian National Philharmonic (Aušros Vartų st. 5)
19.00 FOLKLORE AND PRESENT. Festival Opening
I part: Leonas SOMOVAS. Premiere world music piece
ČIURLIONIS QUARTET
Dalia DEDINSKAITE (violin)
Folk ensemble ARINUSHKA(artistic director Irena and Nikolay Zakharov)
Džiugas DAUGIRDA (percussionist)
II part: LIVING TRADITION: Performances of Lithuanian and foreign folklore groups

12th November, Friday
Hotel Panorama Conference Hall „Aquarius-Terra“ (Sodu st. 14)
10.00 ROUND TABLE "The Impact of Globalization on the Continuity of Folklore Traditions"
Hotel Panorama Vilnius Conference Hall (Sodu st. 14)
10.00-15.00 TRADITIONAL SINGING LABORATORY
St. Catherine's Church (Vilniaus st. 30)
19.00 Concert MUSIC FOR GOURMETS. Performance of the festival guests

13th November, Saturday
Vilnius City Hall (Didžioji st. 31)
11.00–18.00 FOLK ART FAIR
11.00–18.00 X CHILDREN FOLK ASSEMBLY
TRADITIONAL LITHUANIAN CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN. Creative workshops
12.00 THE INHERITORS OF TRADITIONS
A Concert and awards for the laureates of the Children and Youth Republican contest
14.00-19.00 ARTISTIC PORTRAITS OF FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS

14th November, Sunday
Vilnius Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God (Maironio st. 12)
12.00 A CONCERT OF SACRED MUSIC