NIKO Ensemble to Create Sonic Hypnosis at Kintų Music Festival for 20th Season

The NIKO ensemble is embarking on its 20th concert season, dedicating 2026 to a special cycle of performances that highlight composers who have shaped its repertoire and artistic identity. Titled "Sound Hypnosis," the program will showcase works by minimalist master Philip Glass, contemporary composer Arvo Pärt, and widely popular artists Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi. The program also includes music by NIKO's artistic director, Gediminas Gelgotas, which is intrinsically linked to the ensemble's history.

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In "Sound Hypnosis," the concert will feature works by minimalist classic Philip Glass, one of the most significant contemporary music authors Arvo Pärt, and artists Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi, who reach a very wide audience today, as well as music by NIKO's artistic director Gediminas Gelgotas, which is inseparable from the history of the ensemble itself.

"Over two decades, NIKO has delved into the aesthetics of these composers, developing a unique interpretive style recognized both in Lithuania and abroad," the ensemble stated. "The concert merges contemporary classical music with cinematic subtlety, while minimalist structures gain a hypnotic pulse." This performance at the Kintų Music Festival is a meaningful return for NIKO, as the ensemble began performing there with founder Audra Juodeškienė nearly fifteen years ago. The concert serves not only as part of the ensemble's anniversary season but also as a homecoming to significant creative milestones.

Founded in 2006 by composer and conductor Gediminas Gelgotas, NIKO is a distinctive Lithuanian musical collective that uniquely blends classical and popular music cultures in its performances. For those who find "new music" dry or difficult, NIKO's live performances demonstrate otherwise, presenting contemporary music in an engaging, accessible, and understandable manner for diverse audiences. "It's amazing how NIKO makes its music so accessible and engaging, becoming the equivalent of rock stars for contemporary classical music," said Emmy-winning producer and concert curator Judas Newborna.

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Over two decades, NIKO has delved into the aesthetics of these composers, developing a unique interpretive style recognized both in Lithuania and abroad. The concert merges contemporary classical music with cinematic subtlety, while minimalist structures gain a hypnotic pulse.

The ensemble has graced prestigious international stages, including Leipzig's "Gewandhaus," London's "Saint Martin-in-the-Fields" and "Roundhouse," New York's "Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall," and Zurich's "Tonhalle." NIKO's latest album, "Consonance," was released by "Warner Classics" in 2024. They have also collaborated with renowned artists such as Kristjan Järvi and David Geringas. NIKO actively represents Lithuania internationally, performing at global "EXPO" exhibitions and the European Parliament, and recently participated in an event marking the Baltic states' synchronization with the European electricity grid, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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It's amazing how NIKO makes its music so accessible and engaging, becoming the equivalent of rock stars for contemporary classical music.