The festive splendor and beauty are gradually entering everyday life. Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre lit the decorative Christmas tree, which has become a tradition. This year, the main focus was the desire to arouse new sensations. As the originator of the festive idea, opera director Gediminas Šeduikis, says, theater can be seen on the screens, heard on the radio, but its smell can only be smelled when you come.
An invitation to stimulate the senses
On December 6, the audience of the "Bohemus" performance was in for an unexpected surprise. A musical excerpt performed by the brass quintet of the LNOBT orchestra a few minutes before the start of the opera shook the spaces of the main lobby and invited to gather closer to the green curtain with solemn fanfare.
The lighting of the lights was accompanied by the congratulatory speech of Audrius Kundrots, acting as the temporary director of the theater, who this year urged not only to see or hear the theater, but also to smell it:
"We thank everyone for loving our performances and attending them so actively. When we light the Christmas tree, we want not only to create a festive atmosphere, but also to provide exceptional experiences, so this year we also present the theatrical scent accompanying the Christmas tree, which everyone who wants will be able to take home with them soon", A. Kundrots revealed and introduced the surprise.
A classic with a touch of surrealism
The idea of a unique theater scent was born together with the search for a vision of decorating the Christmas tree. The florist-designer Antanas Mažonas, who decorated it this year, proposed a slightly surreal concept that arouses not only the sight, but also other senses. Therefore, the smell has become an excellent tool to expand the boundaries of the impression and provide additional experiences.
"The nature of the idea itself came from the luxury of the classical theater, its elements: we see fabric, crystal, gold, mica. Only, since we live in the XNUMXst century, we also wanted a bit of modernity, surrealism, strange ideas that, when combined, would create a unique, not sentimental, impression. The smell helped convey the experience of the aura of the theater and provided an opportunity not only to see its performers, dance, architecture, hear music, instruments, but also to awaken the fifth sense," A. Mažonas reviewed the creative ideas.
Theater in everyone's home
Especially for LNOBT, a unique aroma was created from the thoughts, feelings and associations of theater people by the well-known Lithuanian fragrance house "Smells Like Spells" team. After listening to the imaginations of what one or another object of the theater smells like, Vilius Malinauskas, the founder of the House of Fragrances, proposed a unique scent that had not existed anywhere before.
"The olfactory, i.e. the sense of smell, accompanies us all at every moment of our lives and takes us to the world of memories and associations without even noticing. The hidden notes of patchouli, amber, rose, opium, musk and black pepper in the perfume recipe dedicated to LNOBT will remind you of the ephemeral beauty of theatrical life and the fragility of mystery, while a drop of juniper will remind you of the silence of Christmas night. We believe that this combination will plunge everyone even deeper into theatrical experiences and create unforgettable moments, wherever they are - in the theater, at home, in the car or with guests," V. Malinauskas shared his thoughts.
You can smell the theater up close from the dishes displayed next to the Christmas tree. And for those who want to take this scent home, soon there will be an opportunity to purchase perfumes specially prepared for the festive period, designed to create the impression of a special space.
