Laimis Vilkončius' oratorio "Nemo Nisi Mors"

In 2026, Lithuania will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Catherine Jagiellon. This personality and her historical role have been increasingly discussed recently. She was the youngest daughter of Sigismund the Elder and Bona Sforza, sister of Sigismund Augustus, Duchess of Finland, Queen of Sweden – her son Sigismund Vasa began the Vasa dynasty of rulers of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The life story of Catherine, also known as the “Queen of Roses and Stones”, the theme of personal sacrifice and duty becomes the plot axis of the oratorio, which is symbolically expressed in the title of the work “Nemo Nisi Mors” (lit. “nothing but death”) – such an inscription is on the tombstone of Catherine the Great in Uppsala (Sweden). Her story still inspires today the courage to be yourself, to discover inner strength and calmly, trusting your intuition, to accept changes that lead to discoveries.
The oratorio is an hour-long work for baritone, choir and symphonic wind orchestra. The libretto is by Rimvydas Stankevičius, laureate of the National Culture and Art Prize, the work is performed by the Lithuanian Symphony Wind Orchestra, Kaunas State Choir, the soloist is sung by Modestas Sedlevičius, and the conductor is Karolis Variakojis.