A few years ago in Kaunas, 808 Orchestra gave listeners an unforgettable concert, and now it returns to the Audra festival. On September 19, the much-acclaimed project will flood the industrial spaces of the Pergalė factory. All this – so that the most famous Lithuanian music performers together with a joint orchestra of musicians would bring favorite dance music tracks to life for a new experience. On stage – Happyendless, Rūta Mur, Džiugas Širvys, Silvester Belt, Vitalijus Puzyriov Vaiper and Giedrė Kilčiauskienė.
When a few years ago the Kaunas nightclub Lizdas collabed with the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and filmed a short movie, the result was a pleasant surprise for many. However, these two institutions, existing in different poles, share a strong connection – love for grand music. It is precisely such an unexpected but very ambitious concert that will soon be possible to experience during the Audra festival.
At the concert, legendary electronic music hits will this time be brought back through orchestral arrangements by a specially assembled joint team of musicians, conducted by Karolis Variakojis. The 808 Orchestra will consist of the VDU Chamber Orchestra, JJAZZ Ensemble and the Kaunas Rhythm Group. The evening will be opened and the audience warmed up by Happyendless, presenting their new album, and later other well-known Lithuanian performers will step on stage. The program will include hits by Daft Punk, Prodigy, Massive Attack, Faithless and other music groups.
Composer and arranger Jievaras Jasinskis notes that this time not only the music performed will be very important, but also the environment.
“Conceptually, industrial spaces are a very important aspect – after all, back then this music carried a certain spirit of rebellion. Many will also remember the earlier illegal rave parties, which certainly did not take place in philharmonics or concert halls. The environment will help to create a completely different atmosphere.
Sometimes it is not easy to recreate the original sounds of electronic music, especially when people know them so well. This time it will be easier, because we will use an electronic track, and the orchestra will supplement the original music,” says Jasinskis.
The producer of 808 Orchestra, Klaudija Aleksandravičiūtė, does not hide it – such and similar projects, when a group of musicians close to the classical orchestra lineup performs well-known electronic music, require large resources and serious preparation, but the result is a unique experience.
“We will hear well-known musical themes, but there will also be an opportunity to be surprised – they will sound both familiar and new. I know that musicians always react to the audience, even if they don’t necessarily show it on stage. If an exchange of emotions happens between those performing the music and those listening to it, we will have the best result and experience,” says the producer.
The project name 808 Orchestra has its own meaning. It is the legendary electronic music device created by Roland, its 808 model. The essence of this project is to entrust the functions of the 808 rhythm machine to an orchestra. In all its beauty and grandeur, in impressive industrial premises, it will perform legendary dance music tracks.