Roland DG Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and 3D devices, announced today its joint sponsorship with UAB DG DIMENSE (hereinafter, DG DIMENSE) of the XXIII International Festival Operetta to be held on the outdoor stage near Kaunas Castle in Lithuania on July 5 and 6, 2024.
Since the establishment of the joint venture company DG DIMENSE in Lithuania in October 2023, Roland DG has focused on promoting cultural exchange and fostering friendly relations between the two countries. To further these efforts, Roland DG and DG DIMENSE decided to sponsor the annual music festival.
The festival is an outdoor concert held every July in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city. This year, the opera Madame Butterfly by Puccini, commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death, will be performed. Set in Nagasaki, Japan, the opera will feature Japanese conductor Hirofumi Yoshida and four Japanese vocalists.
As part of the sponsorship, Roland DG and DG DIMENSE will jointly provide funds for the travel expenses of the Japanese performers and will also sell original merchandise produced by its acclaimed inkjet printers at the venue. Proceeds from merchandise sales will be donated to humanitarian activities in Lithuania through DG DIMENSE.
Roland DG is committed to realizing the company’s purpose, “To Empower Creativity and Excitement Worldwide,” by contributing to cultural development and enhancing the friendship between Japan and Lithuania.
Overview of the Sponsorship
| Sponsors | Roland DG Corporation (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan; President, Representative Director: Kohei Tanabe)
UAB DG DIMENSE (Headquarters: Vilnius, Lithuania; CEO and Director: Aleksey Etin) |
| Details of Sponsorship | 1. Contribution of €10,000 to the festival organizers
2. Sale of original merchandise with all proceeds donated |
Overview of the Event
| Event Name | The XXIII International Festival Operetta at Kaunas Castle 2024 |
| Theme | Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Puccini’s Death |
| Date and Time | July 5 (Friday) – July 6 (Saturday), 2024, starting at 8 PM each day
July 5 (Friday): Puccini’s Opera “Madame Butterfly” July 6th (Saturday): Gala Concert “An Evening of Italian Music” |
| Venue | Outdoor stage near Kaunas Castle |
| Admission | Free |
| Other Information | Annual Attendance: Approximately 10,000
Organizer: VSI Baritonu Trio Official Website: https://operetta.lt/ |
| Performers for “Madame Butterfly” | Conductor: Hirofumi Yoshida
Director: Kęstutis S. Jakštas Orchestra: The KVMT symphony orchestra Chorus: The KVMT choir Cast: Cio-Cio-San (Madame Butterfly): Junko Ueda Lt. B.F. Pinkerton: Tomas Pavilionis U.S. Consul Sharpless: Laimonas Pautienius Suzuki, her maid: Mae Hayashi Marriage agent Goro: Tsukasa Ide The Bonze, her uncle: Masashi Tomosugi Prince Yamadori: Ramūnas Urbietis Kate: Iveta Kalkauskaitė |
About the Performers
Conductor Hirofumi Yoshida has maintained a distinguished career in Italian opera houses and has also conducted operas in wartime Ukraine, among other activities. The four Japanese vocalists were selected through auditions and are highly regarded for their talent and potential, with expectations for their success on the global stage.
Comments from Conductor Hirofumi Yoshida
“Madame Butterfly is set in Japan, and with a Japanese conductor and soloists, we aim to convey the authentic charm of this opera. We hope this will be an opportunity for these talented Japanese soloists to make their mark on the world stage. The outdoor stage with Kaunas Castle as a backdrop offers a unique appeal, and we hope many people will come to enjoy the performances.”
