Kretinga international early music festival

An Invitation to Hear Timeless Music

The Kretinga Festival is more than a series of concerts – it is a journey through time. It reveals hidden musical treasures of past centuries and recreates historical sounds, reaching out to the hearts of contemporary listeners. Hear history sing.

About us

Founded in 2017 by its artistic director Rodrigo Calveyra, the Kretinga Early Music Festival grew around a unique historical instrument — the oldest organ in Lithuania (c. 1680), housed in the Kretinga Franciscan Church. Today, the festival stands as one of the most important early music platforms in the Baltic region, celebrating Europe’s rich musica heritage through performances by leading specialists in historically informed performance.

Our mission

Our mission is to bring to Lithuania the finest early music ensembles and soloists, specialising in historically informed performance, and to revive Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque repertoire through concerts free of charge. In doing so, we foster a living cultural dialogue between past and present, making early music accessible to all.

2026 Main Program

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Opening Concert

Echoes of Venice

Kretinga Franciscan Church

30/7/26

19:00

LES CORNETS NOIRS (Switzerland)

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Singing Recital

Il dono delle lacrime

Kretinga Franciscan Church

9/8/26

19:00

ANA QUINTANS, soprano, FERNANDO MIGUEL JALÔTO, organ (Portugal)

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Closing Concert

In Dulci Jubilo

Kretinga Franciscan Church

16/8/26

19:00

ACCADEMIA DEL PIACERE (Spain): FAHMI ALQHAI, artistic direction

photophoto

Opening Concert

Echoes of Venice

Kretinga Franciscan Church

30/7/26

19:00

LES CORNETS NOIRS (Switzerland)

photophoto

Singing Recital

Il dono delle lacrime

Kretinga Franciscan Church

9/8/26

19:00

ANA QUINTANS, soprano, FERNANDO MIGUEL JALÔTO, organ (Portugal)

photophoto

Closing Concert

In Dulci Jubilo

Kretinga Franciscan Church

16/8/26

19:00

ACCADEMIA DEL PIACERE (Spain): FAHMI ALQHAI, artistic direction

2026 Pre-festival Events

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Beneficient concert

Renaissance Music Concert

Padvariai Social Care Home

22/4/26

14:30

CANTO FIORITO (Lithuania): RODRIGO CALVEYRA, artistic direction

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Pre-festival concert

Between Breath and Strings

Kretinga Franciscan Church

21/6/26

19:00

RODRIGO CALVEYRA, conductor, TEODORO BAÙ – viola da gamba, ANDREA BUCCARELLA – harpsichord, KLAIPĖDA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Kretinga international early music festival is proud to be a free cultural experience for everyone!

We believe that the highest level music should be accessible to all, regardless of background or budget. That’s why all of our concerts are free of charge.

Past Festivals

Icon Quote

The organ of Kretinga? A wonder! To protect, show and make heard to the whole world, in this ideal acoustics of the church.

Visų pirma, Kretingosvargonai yra lobis. Jų garsas neįtikėtinai gražus ir unikalus. Jau pats savaime būdamas gražus, jis tampa magiškas, kai yra palydimas kitų instrumentų, pavyzdžiui, smuiko, mano atveju. Bažnyčia taip pat pasižymi neįtikėtina akustika, kuri tobulai tinka šių vargonų ir ansamblio garsui. Groti Kretingos senosios muzikos festivalyje man buvo iš tiesų unikali patirtis.

Ryo Terakado

Barokinio smuiko profesorius Karališkojoje Briuselio konservatorijoje

Kretingos senosios muzikos festivalis pastaraisiais metais tapo vienu svarbiausių muzikinių įvykių senosios muzikos scenoje: išskirtinė organizacija, entuziastinga publika ir nuostabūs vargonai – ko daugiau galėtumėte norėti?

Frithjof Smith

Schola Cantorum Basiliensis korneto profesorius

Mano patirtis Kretingos senosios muzikos festivalyje yra viena ryškiausių mano gyvenime, gal dėl tam tikrų panašumų tarp Lietuvos ir Pietų Amerikos – mano gimtųjų kraštų – publikos. Lietuvoje aš jaučiu panašią emociją, tokį patį alkį muzikai, veržimąsi prie jos, ką retai kada patirsi kitose Europos šalyse dalyse.

Leonardo García Alarcón

„Capella Mediterranea“ meno vadovas

The Kretinga Early Music Festival has in the past years become one of the important musical events in the Early Music scene, outstanding organization, enthusiastic audience and a wonderful organ, what more could you wish for?

Frithjof Smith

Cornetto professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis

Festival is financed by

Other Sponsors & Partners

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