Antanas Sabaniauskas "Tukstanciai Ziedu" 1933

"A Thousand Blossoms"

One family's photos from pre-WWII Lithuania (Rokiskis district). When the Russians occupied Lithuania the family was dispersed. Some fled West, some were killed in the hostilities, and some were exiled to Siberia.

Antanas Sabaniauskas Lithuania's leading pop tenor, whose music was played throughout Europe, a wonderful and big-hearted man who died in obscurity, reviled by his government. The tragedy of Sabaniauskas life, parallels the tragedy of Lithuania. Occupied by the Russians with the collaborator Lithuanian government, Lithuania's greatest talents were judged by their love of freedom, rather than talent. When the war ended, Sabaniauskas was able to work as a singer in the Lithuanian National Opera chorus. In 1947, when the Communists found out who he was, he was fired. For the rest of his days he eked out a living doing menial jobs barely able to support himself and his family. In the 70s he was finally allowed to sing in clubs. Like so many things in our lovely little country, who knows how his life would have turned out, and how many people in the world might have enjoyed the singing of this amazing vocalist, had Lithuania remained free.

Photos used by permission of the family.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lithuania
• music
• Lithuanian
• Antanas
• Sabaniauskas
• songs
• from
• 1930s
• Rokiskis
• pre-WWII

[kostgian]

Aoustandigs images very informatives for the people over there...what sad to think that those innocents persons dispersed in foreign or in death....

[DamnKimPhilby]

I am most grateful for your kind remarks. Eufcharisto!

[kostgian]

Antanas is great..one friende from vilnius told me that i tell that for flattery....pity for this great artist is forgotten by political manierisms...art for artis I JUST DONT CARE for the political or human preferences for an artist ..i just compare only in terms artistics....i.e carlo buti was may-be in mussolini party ..i just dont care

[DamnKimPhilby]

People loved the singing of Antanas Sabaniauskas so much, that his recordings were treasured and his name was such, that people braved Communists' disapproval to secretly listen to his recordings. The important thing about Sabaniauskas vis-a-vis the Russian Communists is that he was repressed for nothing else than being a wonderful singer who loved his country.

[jurek46pink]

Beautiful composition.

[DamnKimPhilby]

Thank you much for your comment.

[LietuvosRespublika]

Visa tai buvo Laisvoje Lietuvoje...

[Wheetau]

Smagu atrasti senus gerus savo salies atlikejus

[Divirix1]

old lithuanian songs

[pupitukas]

Aciu labai:) dievinu tokia muzika, o dar Lietuviska! :)puiku:)

[kostgian]

i dont understand such as wises..the same with theodorakis during the dictatorship with colonels 1967-1974...the only well documented thaughts-explanations for the phenomenon.. are the proof of powerful [by suchperformances]impact to manipulate people by those artists..

[AnaJilK]

Really very informative retrospective video with a beautiful song in the background... ***** Thanks Kostas for sharing!