Vilniaus filharmonijos veikla vokiečių okupacijos metais
The Vilnius Philharmonic Activities during Nazi Occupation

Summary/Abstract: During the Nazi occupation period, the administrative staff of the Vilnius Philharmonic put their efforts to save not only the institution itself but also the Jewish people working there in order to continue the initiated activities of its main collectives (the symphony orchestra, choir and folk band). The occupation government closed the Philharmonic on 17 March 1943. During the German occupation, the Philharmonic symphony orchestra, choir and folk band as well as the vocal quintet and string quartet, administered by the Philharmonic, gave concerts in Vilnius and other towns and played works by Lithuanian, German, Russian composers and R. Wagner on Vilnius Radiophone. The occupation government used to send quite a number of poorly prepared artists (directors, soloists, etc.) to participate in the concerts in Lithuania. As the occupation government showed no objection, an opera troupe was started in Vilnius in 1942. It was called Opera of Vilnius Philharmonic. Although administered by the Vilnius Philharmonic, it had concerts at Vilnius City Theatre rented for this purpose. The first première of the opera Faust by Ch. Gounod was performed on March 9, 1942. Only on March 17,1943, when the German government closed the institution, the administration of the former Philharmonic collectives was passed on to Vilnius City Theatre. It became responsible for the Philharmonic building, symphony orchestra and choir. The folk band then existed independently. The Philharmonic activities were significant and gave a sense to an important stage of developing a national state.

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