Musical celebration of 30 anniversary of the Baltic Way in Paris

The Lithuanian embassy in France hosted 30 years of The Baltic Way musical celebration with the Jazz duo of Kęstutis Vaiginis and Dmitri Golovanov. For the joyful occasion, the two musicians played on September 9 in the embassy’s courtyard in Paris.  The Lithuanian ambassador Nerijus Aleksiejūnas was joined by his Estonian colleague Clyde Kull and Kristaps Misans, the Latvian Deputy of Mission.

A crowd of diplomats, people from the art world, academics, and members of the local community joined in the celebration while sharing some of the memories. In his welcome words the Lithuanian Ambassador told about the defiance of the Soviet power, and in particular the KGB on that summer day, 23 August 1989, that paved the way for the eventual liberation of Lithuania and the two other Baltic states.

Ambassador Aleksiejūnas invited the gathered guests to take inspiration from the extraordinary spirit of the Baltic Way and said, “Jazz explains the best what was the spirit of the Baltic Way 30 years ago- freedom, unity, peaceful protest, emotions”. The ambassador then introduced the main guests of the evening, the duo of saxophonist Kestutis Vaiginis and Dmitrij Golovanov.

The renowned duo then played an hour-long concert.  Most of the compositions played under a warm Paris night where a selection of their compositions and soulful ballads. At the end of the evening, they treated the audience to their spectacular version on soprano saxophone of  Naima by John Coltrane, one of the saxophone giants in the 1950 and ’60.