Each August, the ancient walls of the Kretinga Franciscan Church resonate with music spanning several centuries. Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque works are brought back to life by some of the world’s most distinguished early music performers. In addition to the main August programme, the festival includes a pre-festival concert in June as part of Kretinga’s city celebrations, as well as educational concerts for children and charity concerts for elderly audiences.
The first Kretinga Early Music Festival was launched in 2017 to mark the 400th anniversary of the Kretinga Franciscan Church (Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1617). The festival breathed new life into the remarkable 17th-century organ — the oldest in Lithuania (c. 1680) — relocating it from a side chapel to the main nave to achieve its full acoustic potential.The festival quickly became a cultural highlight in Lithuania’s musical calendar and gained international recognition,attracting audiences from across the country and neighbouring regions. Now entering its 10th edition, the festival remains firmly committed to presenting historically informed performances at the highest artistic level and making them accessible to everyone.
Now entering its 10th edition, the festival remains devoted to historically informed performance. Its heart still beats in the Kretinga Franciscak Church, where sacred architecture, and centuries-old music come together in a timeless celebration.
Built around 1680, the Kretinga organ is the oldest surviving organ in Lithuania. Beautifully restored and meticulously maintained, it is tuned annually by an organ builder from Belgium. The instrument features Baroque pitch and temperament (465 Hz, ¼-comma meantone), a and a characteristic short octave. Despite its compact size, the organ produces a powerful sound that fills the entire church. Mounted on permanent wheels, it can be moved to the centre of the nave for concerts — a rare opportunity for audiences not only to hear a historic church organ, but also to see it and theorganist performing.
The artists appearing at the festival belong to the very top tier of early music performers worldwide. Over the years, the festival has welcomed the most renowned ensembles and musicians. When shaping the programme, our foremost priority is to create the best possible conditions for invited artists to fully express themselves. The festival does not impose themes or predefined concepts: musicians are free to choose what they wish to perform. Many create programmes especially for Kretinga, exploring rare, refined, and seldom-heard repertoire inspired by the unique instrument and space.
We firmly believe that music performed at the highest artistic level should be accessible to everyone. A profound artistic experience has the power to transform individuals and society alike. The Kretinga Early Music Festival offers exactly this opportunity by presenting all concerts free of charge.
The acoustics of the Kretinga Franciscan Church are truly exceptional, combining two qualities rarely found together: a reverberation that enriches the music and a remarkable clarity of sound. In this space, music blossoms and unfolds in all its finest colours without losing transparency.
At the crossroads of history and sound, we believe music can do more than entertain — it can educate, preserve cultural memory, and connect generations. We value authenticity in performance, excellence in artistry, accessibility for all audiences, a deep commitment to education, and profound respect for the historical and spiritual heritage of Kretinga and Lithuania. Our goal is to become a leading cultural destination in the Baltic region, where early music, education, and heritage come together to inspire future generations.
The festival is organised by the host ensemble Canto Fiorito, founded in 2013 in Vilnius and led by the festival’s artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra. The ensemble is dedicated to the research and performance of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, with particular focus on the musical heritage of the 17th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Canto Fiorito is the most active early music ensemble in Lithuania and the ensemble that most frequently represents the country at international early music festivals across Europe.
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