TRADITIONAL EVENTS

The International Early Music Festival

From 30 July to 16 August, the Kretinga Franciscan Church will resonate with the authentic sounds of the Renaissance and Baroque – as it hosts the 9th edition of the Kretinga International Early Music Festival. Inspired by the sound of Lithuania's oldest organ (c.1680), the Festival invites audiences to immerse themselves in music history alongside world-class ensembles and soloists. This year's theme marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Italian composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. His musical legacy will be explored in four concerts featuring performers from Belgium, France, Mexico, Switzerland, and Lithuania. In total, the Festival will feature seven concerts, including one held in the unique setting of the Kretinga Museum’s Winter Garden. This enchanting space will host a performance of 17th-century French court music, unfolding in an atmosphere of elegance and timeless beauty. All concerts by international early music stars are free of charge and open to everyone – an invitation to experience the living soul of early music in the heart of Kretinga. www.kretingafestival.lt