“I feel incredibly uplifted. It’s a huge honor, and I’m so grateful I was able to perform my piece, ‘Champions,’ today with such support and backing. You are amazing. Thank you,” said guest judge E.Redko after an impressive performance with all five choirs.
Sitting alongside judges Inga Jankauskaitė and Vytas Lukočius this evening, E.Redko stated she would base her evaluation of the choirs’ performances solely on emotion.
“I’m generally positive. Not critical, but we’ll observe. I’m a very sensitive person, and I always look for that feeling in music. If my heart flutters and I get chills down my spine – that’s a sign to me that there’s something really, really good in that performance,” Redko explained.
Last Sunday, the Marijampolė “Rožinis” choir received the fewest points from the judges, even as the Klaipėda “Mėlynajam” choir received the fewest votes from the audience.
“Now that everything is so slippery and unpredictable, we approach the stage as if it were our last time each time. We really want to enjoy it. We sang today, and I felt those vibrations – that everyone sang with their heart,” said Liepa, the captain of the choir, after their performance.
“You radiate such peace. I’m a person of feelings. I felt what you wanted to say with this song. My heart really fluttered, I got chills,” E.Redko sincerely praised the Klaipėda choir.
Inga Jankauskaitė said the Klaipėda “Mėlynojo” choir’s song reminded her of a past heartbreak.
“I have a story. That story broke my heart. Really. This song was a megahit a few years ago. And that summer, like most of us, I fell for it. I listened to it over and over… I felt like a little girl. It was such a song for a sensitive drive in the car,” Jankauskaitė recalled.
J.Stepanovos nuotr./Šou „Didysis chorų mūšis“ akimirka
Vytas Lukočius, however, questioned whether the Klaipėda choir’s performance would resonate with everyone.
“I don’t know if all of Žemaitija or Lithuania will support you. It’s likely, but it’s also possible that some will remain indifferent, as this song isn’t so familiar to older generations,” Lukočius said, urging the Klaipėda audience to support their choir with messages and calls.
“The most important thing for me was that my voice didn’t tremble. But my hand was shaking, like it was my first performance,” Panevėžys “Purpurinio” choir captain Justas Pečeliūnas said with a smile immediately after his choir performed a piece by Marijonas Mikutavičius.
“Justas, you’re even funnier when you’re so serious,” Jankauskaitė replied with a laugh.
The Marijampolė “Rožiniam” choir, however, didn’t receive the best comments from the judges. Their choice to perform “Žemaitukų”’s song “Su draugais” received mixed reviews. Only E.Redko praised them, while the two permanent judges were critical.
“I understand that I’m taking a big risk, as my spring tour concert in Marijampolė is approaching. I should be more careful, but I can’t be. And I’ll be very honest,” began judge I.Jankauskaitė.
“I hope the audience supports you,” V.Lukočius echoed Jankauskaitė’s sentiment. “I suppose this song is a good song for a party – you know, a get-together. But you could have found a different approach. Now, what can I say – a hundred days. Compared to Kaunas, what they were doing there, this is still a long way to go.”
What surprised the audience with the performances from the Kaunas and Alytus choirs? And most importantly – which choir will exit “Didysis chorų mūšis” this evening? Find out this Sunday evening at 7:30 PM on LNK.
