Video 1: Tango pour Claude – “Tutto a Dio”: G. Staponkutė (viola) and A. Rakauskas (accordion)
Video 2: La Campanella composed by N. Paganini/F. Liszt (transcr. V. Semionov), performed by Augustinas Rakauskas.
Video 1: Tango pour Claude – “Tutto a Dio”: G. Staponkutė (viola) and A. Rakauskas (accordion)
“Baltic Tango”
Europe – USA – Canada Tour 2020: Thirty Musical Paintings or the 30th Anniversary of Lithuanian Independence
As one of their Musical Paintings: On March 15, 2020 San Francisco Accordion Club presents: Tutto a Dio all the way from Lithuania. Greta Staponkute-Rakau (viola) Augustinas Rakauskas (accordion) with Neringa Radenaite (soprano.) will perform.
The duo “Tutto a Dio” are a viola and accordion duo. In 2012 both Lithuanian members Greta Staponkute-Rakau and Augustinas Rakauskas started creating a common summer musical project in London where they made their first musical steps together. In the meantime, the duo started to focus on chamber music, work on a variety of arrangements as well as develop their concert career.
“Tutto a Dio” is based on an exclusive combination of the viola and accordion which has been ant exceptional combination. The duo’s repertoire has a wide range of different genres from baroque, classical and modern compositions to tango nuevo and contemporary music. The ensemble’s activity in four years has accelerated significantly.
Augustines and Greta share, “Regarding the title why we called our tour like this: This year (officially on March 11) is the 30th Anniversary when Lithuania has regained its independence. And we created “two chapters” of our program.
One is the Lithuanian music arrangements and original pieces and the second one is mostly Tango including many pieces by Astor Piazzolla. This is why we called this series of concerts “Baltic Tango”. The goal of this 30th Anniversary of Lithuania was to make Thirty-Concert tour. This includes additional concerts in Switzerland and Lithuania too.
One club had to cancel at the last moment so this is why you can see only 29 concerts on the list. The concerts take place in various halls communicating with the American-Lithuanian communities as well as American accordion clubs and associations which help us with the management of the concerts.”
“Tutto a Dio” has excellent international achievements and is actively performing in Europe and the USA. The Duet has held recitals in California, Meine, Florida, the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York (USA), Switzerland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece.
The Duo has received professional recognition in international competitions worldwide by winnin important competitions – the “Coupe Mondiale – 2017”, 1st Prize in “Premio Internazionale di Castelfirdardo 2017” (Italy), 1st Prize winners of “Trophée Mondial 2017” (France) as well as became the champions of the “Coupe Mondiale – 2018” in Lithuania. They continue their intensive concert activity in Europe and the USA. See list of concerts at end of article.
2020 Performances include:
Greta Staponkute-Rakau – viola | Augustinas Rakauskas – accordion | Neringa Radėnaitė – soprano
1. February 25th., 6 pm., GSTAAD (Switzerland)
2. February 28th., 12 pm., Nashua Public Library, NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA)
3. February 28th., 6 pm., Rodgers Memorial Library, HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA)
4. February 29th., 12 pm., St. Mass, 13 pm, Concert KENNEBUNK, MAINE (USA)
5. February 29th., 7 pm., Maironis Park, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSSETTS (USA)
6. March 1st., 1 pm., Lithuanian Hall, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (USA)
7. March 3rd., 8 pm., The Resurrection Monastery, TORONTO, ONTARIO (Canada)
8. March 4th., 5:30 pm., Vilnius Manor House, TORONTO, ONTARIO (Canada)
9. March 6th., 1 pm., Private event at the Lithuanian Embassy, OTTAWA, ONTARIO (Canada)
10. March 7th., 2 pm., Dawn Gate Parish Hall, MONTREAL, QUEBEC (Canada)
11. March 8th., 1 pm., Lithuanian Music Hall, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (USA)
12. March 10th., 4 pm., 5500 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
13. March 10th., 6:30 pm., 5500 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
14. March 11th., 8 pm., First Christian Church of North HOLLYWOOD, L.A. CALIFORNIA (USA)
15. March 12th., 7:15 pm., The Runaway Restaurant, NAPA, CALIFORNIA (USA)
16. March 13th., 7:30 pm., Welcome Grange at 3275 Hagen Road, NAPA, CALIFORNIA (USA)
17. March 14th., 2 pm., 1st Congregational Church, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA (USA)
18. March 15th., 3 pm., Chetcuti Community room, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
19. March 17th., 5 pm., “The Hamilton” 555 Byron St., PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
20. March 19th., 7:30 pm., NAA Convention Hayatt Regency Hotel North Dallas, Richardson, TEXAS
21. March 20th., 7 pm., 280 DonOre Rd., SALT SPRING ISLAND (CANADA)
22. March 21st., 8 pm., UVic Legacy Art Gallery, VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA)
23. March 22nd., 3 pm., 1812 9th Ave, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (USA)
24. March 22nd., 7 pm., Ronald United Methodist Church, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (USA)
25. March 23rd., Accordion Workshop, Petosa Accordions, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (USA)
26. March 27th., 7 pm., Accordion Recital, Lithuanian Hall, EDMONTON, (CANADA)
27. March 28th., 5:30 pm., Accordion Recital, Lithuanian Cultural Society, CALGARY, (CANADA)
28. April 2nd., 12.30 pm., Caecilia Hall, GENEVA (SWITZERLAND)
29. April 16th., Gariūnai Hall, VILNIUS (LITHUANIA)
