Vykintas Baltakas


Vykintas Baltakas is a Lithuanian composer and conductor known for his contributions to contemporary classical music.

Education and early career

Baltakas studied at the Vilnius Music Academy from 1990 to 1993 under Vytautas Barkauskas. In 1993, he moved to Karlsruhe, Germany, to study composition with Wolfgang Rihm and conducting with Andreas Weiss at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. Between 1994 and 1997, he also studied at the International Eötvös Institute under Peter Eötvös. In 1997, Baltakas continued his studies in Paris at the Conservatoire National Supérieur and later attended IRCAM's composition and computer music course from 1999 to 2000.

Professional career

Vykintas Baltakas is active in contemporary music, participating in festivals and collaborating with various European ensembles. His works have been commissioned by institutions such as the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Biennale, the Wiener Festwochen/Klangforum Wien, the Ensemble Modern, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/musica viva, the Venice Biennale, the Queen Elisabeth Competition of Belgium, and Maerz Musik Berlin.
His compositions have been performed and premiered by ensembles and musicians including the Arditti Quartet, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, Teodoro Anzellotti, Marcus Weiss, and Benjamin Kobler.
As a conductor, Baltakas has worked with ensembles and orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ensemble Modern, and Klangforum Wien. In 2009, he founded the Lithuanian Ensemble Network, aiming to promote contemporary music in Lithuania.
In 2009, he founded LENsemble Vilnius, which brings together ensembles, soloists, and conductors focused on contemporary music.
Baltakas has contributed to several recordings, including two portrait albums released by Kairos Music: b and Ouroboros.

Compositions

SoloPažeistas šešėlis for soprano and marimba Pasaka for piano and electronicsPasaka for piano soloNr. 2 for versions for piccolo, clarinet, accordiondas Lied for piano and electronicsou for piano solori for soprano and electronicsEine kleine Nachtmusik for violinMusic of falling sounds for violin and electronicsIncantatio for sopranoCladi I for accordionCanon perpetuus super Thema Regium for harpsichordCladi IV for accordion
Chamber WorksUnvollendete. for flute, trumpet, and alto sax or flute, trumpet, and alto sax RiRo for soprano and trumpetNichtstück :
Ensemble Worksmintis-atsakas-aidas for brass ensembleSinfonia for wind ensemblePūslinė for mixed ensembleNr. 1 / 3 for mixed ensembleabout to drink dense clouds for narrator, ensemble, and electronicsOuroboros for ensembleOuroboros - Zyklus for soprano, ensemble, and electronicsro for ensembleLift to Dubai for ensemble and electronicsRedditio for ensembleEselsbrücke for ensembleNeon Sea for flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and electronicsCladi II for ensembleCladi III for ensemble and electronics
Orchestra WorksPoussla for symphonic orchestraScoria for symphonic orchestraSaxordionphonics for solo saxophone, accordion, and symphonic orchestraCommentum for cello and string orchestraSandwriting II for symphonic orchestraSpicules II for cello and string orchestraCumulus for symphonic wind orchestra
Stage WorksCantio for narrator, soprano, tenor, bass-baritone, chamber orchestra, and electronics

Audio production

Vykintas Baltakas's works have been recorded and released by several music labels. These labels include:Kairos Music: Released the album b in 2016, featuring compositions such as "ro" and "Pasaka".Neos: Released the album Vykintas Baltakas: Redditio in 2018, featuring compositions like "Redditio" and "Ri."Fuga Libera: Released the album Vykintas Baltakas: Ouroboros in 2020, featuring compositions like "Lift to Dubai" and "Ouroboros".

Publishers

Vykintas Baltakas's compositions are published by Universal Edition Wien, Composers Edition London, and Aust-Musik-Verlag.

Curatorship

  • Since 2009: Founder and Artistic Director of LENsemble Vilnius.
  • Since 2015: Co-Curator of contemporary music activities at the Kintai Festival.
  • Since 2021: Curator of a contemporary music series at NoBusiness Records.
  • Since 2023: Co-Curator of the festival/workshop contemPLAY.

Awards and recognition

Baltakas has received several awards for his work in composition and conducting, including:
  • Prize at the conductors' course Extreme in Mürzzuschlag
  • Stipendiumpreis of the Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music for Pasaka
  • Composition Prize for Pasaka for piano and tape at the Concours International de Piano XXème siècle d'Orléans
  • Second Prize at the Bad-Homburger Conductors' Competition
  • International Composition Award Claudio Abbado
  • Award "Best Lithuanian Music-theater piece in 2004" for Cantio
  • Ernst von Siemens Grants-in-aid Prize

Academic roles

Baltakas has held academic positions at various institutions:2015–2017: Guest Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.From 2015: Professor of Composition at the Conservatory of Maastricht.2016: Co-initiated a master's program in contemporary music performance at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius, in collaboration with Liudas Mockūnas.From 2019: Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.2008–2024: Guest Lecturer at esteemed institutions, including: