New Book Published (In Lithuanian): Fire and Faith. Lithuanian History and Mythology on the Opera Stage

A new monograph, Fire and Faith. Lithuanian History and Mythology on the Opera Stage, has been published, exploring representations of Lithuanian history and mythology in opera. The book offers a comprehensive and engaging account of how historical events, legends, and mythological motifs related to Lithuania have been interpreted on the opera stage in different countries and historical periods. The authors of the monograph – Helmutas Šabasevičius, Rūta Stanevičiūtė, Jūratė Katinaitė, and Daiva Šabasevičienė – have identified as many as 67 operas featuring Lithuanian-themed narratives. These works were created from the early 18th century to the present day in Italy, Poland, Russia, Germany, France, the United States, Australia, and other countries.The publication covers a wide historical span – from Alessandro Scarlatti’s opera-oratorio San Casimiro, rè di Polonia to Constantine Koukias’s opera Olegas, staged in Tasmania. Through the analysis of these works, the authors reveal how Lithuanian history, mythology, and their symbolic meanings have been interpreted across different cultural contexts and historical periods on the opera stage. The monograph contributes to broader research on Lithuania’s cultural heritage and its representation within the international musical landscape, opening new perspectives for studies of opera history, cultural memory, and mythological narratives.