The Lithuanian singing competition “Žvaigždžių duetai. nauja era” (Star Duets. New Era) delivered a particularly emotional moment during its latest installment on Sunday. A moving performance by an unlikely pair – a farmer and a singer – captivated both the judges and audience,prompting a powerful display of vulnerability onstage. The duo’s rendition of a beloved ballad struck a chord, revealing a deeply personal connection to the song and a shared emotional journey throughout the competition.
A farmer and a singer brought the audience to tears during a recent performance on the Lithuanian singing competition, “Žvaigždžių duetai. Nauja era” (Star Duets. New Era). Mindaugas Diliautas and Laisva’s emotional rendition of a classic ballad left both performers visibly moved.
Before taking the stage, the duo admitted the song had already reduced them to tears during rehearsals. “To win this competition, you need sincerity, you need to stay true to yourself, and you need a vision for how you want to present yourself on stage,” Laisva said to her partner. “When we started rehearsing this song with Mindaugas, we were both crying. Are you already crying?”
Performing “Aš mylėjau tave tau nežinant” (I Loved You Without You Knowing) by Aktorių trio, the pair continued to struggle with their emotions, with Diliautas revealing the poignant story behind their song choice.
“Let me tell you why we chose this song,” Diliautas explained. “One day, I was milking cows and heard on the radio that Kostas Smoriginas had passed away. I immediately wrote to Laisva and said we had to perform this song. It *had* to be sung on ‘Žvaigždžių duetai.’ It was a non-negotiable.”
Laisva, meanwhile, allowed herself to be overcome by emotion backstage.
“I’m definitely going to cry. I’m already exhausted. Don’t ask me anything else,” she said, visibly upset.
The show also saw other contestants reflecting on unexpected discoveries they’ve made about themselves throughout the competition. Meda Borisaitė-Purtokė, a host for LNK television, who is paired with singer Anyanya, revealed a hidden talent.
“I’ve learned during this project that I can teach Lithuanian,” Borisaitė-Purtokė joked. “Maybe this is a dream I never knew I had? During rehearsals, I speak clearly and slowly so Anyanya can understand. Maybe I’ll be a teacher?”
Simono Barono nuotr./„Žvaigždžių duetai. Nauja era“
The lighthearted moments gave way to serious performance as Borisaitė-Purtokė and Anyanya tackled the challenging Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion ballad, “The Prayer.” Their performance exceeded even their own expectations.
“This is an incredibly difficult song. It’s a litmus test, showing who really has what it takes. And you clearly showed who you are,” judge Ieva Prudnikovaitė told the pair. “You are already one of the best duets in Lithuania.”
Tears welled up in Borisaitė-Purtokė’s eyes after the performance. She confessed she had asked Anyanya to change the song, fearing its difficulty would hinder their chances. But after performing it on stage, it became clear that no song was too challenging for this duo.
“I said before that this song didn’t resonate with me. But during this performance, I started to sing, I began to understand the meaning of the lyrics. Then I looked at my mom, who was in the audience, and thought, ‘Thank you, Mom, for everything.’ Then I thought, ‘Okay, I need to get back to the song, I need to sing it.’ And I did,” Borisaitė-Purtokė said through tears.
“Žvaigždžių duetai. Nauja era” airs Sundays at 7:30 PM on LNK.
