Lithuanian Recording Wins Major German Classical Music Award

A Lithuanian music recording has achieved international acclaim, winning a significant German classical music award. The album, titled "Back to Nature," features a collection of works by the renowned Lithuanian composer M.K. Čiurlionis and contemporary composer Romualdas Gražinis.

The recording showcases performances by the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the French Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and the "Aidija" choir, conducted by the acclaimed maestro Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. Pianist Onutė Gražinytė and the Čiurlionis Arts School choir also contributed to the project.

"When making the recording, we certainly weren't thinking about any evaluations or awards," said sound engineer Aleksandra Kerienė, co-director of "Baltic Mobile Recordings," the company behind the album. "It was a completely different creative process than usual: lots of new ideas, material, a huge scope, and a multitude of challenges and searches for solutions. Everything about working on this project was special – the people, the energy, Mirga, and the orchestra seemed to be catching not just every sound, but also inspiration. Everyone was united by the desire to create a miracle."

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When making the recording, we certainly weren't thinking about any evaluations or awards. It was a completely different creative process than usual: lots of new ideas, material, a huge scope, and a multitude of challenges and searches for solutions. Everything about working on this project was special – the people, the energy, Mirga, and the orchestra seemed to be catching not just every sound, but also inspiration. Everyone was united by the desire to create a miracle.

The album includes Čiurlionis's symphonic poem "Jūra" (The Sea), reconstructed by Greek musicologist and composer Charis Efthimiou, which was first performed in concert in spring 2025. A filmed performance of this piece was shown on Deutsche Grammophon's STAGE+ channel, gaining significant traction with audiences in the US, Japan, and Germany.

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, described as one of the world's best conductors, stated, "That our vision was captured on record is the fulfillment of a huge dream. It contains the most important works of Čiurlionis and his father's 'Sutartinė,' born from Čiurlionis. This record is a dedication to our land through family."

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That our vision was captured on record is the fulfillment of a huge dream. It contains the most important works of Čiurlionis and his father's 'Sutartinė,' born from Čiurlionis. This record is a dedication to our land through family.