The Lithuanian National Philharmonic, founded in 1926, is one of Lithuania’s oldest and most prestigious music institutions. The building, located in the Old Town of Vilnius, was completed in 1905 and is one of the most luxurious examples of the historicist style in the capital of Lithuania. The edifice witnessed several important stages of Vilnius’ transformation: it served as the Merchants’ Palace, the City Hall, a wholesale trade house, and a hotel until finally, it became the state philharmonic. The first Lithuanian bookshop operated in the building, and in 1906, the country’s first national opera premiere took place here.
Today, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic continues to promote classical music and preserve the country’s cultural heritage. The Philharmonic has become an important venue for both Lithuanian and foreign musicians. Concerts, festivals, and other events are held here regularly. When no big events occur in the Philharmonic, filmmakers gladly use the building: many films and TV series have been shot here.
One of them was the costume drama “Sisi”, which tells the coming-of-age story of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. The show was immensely popular in Germany, Italy, Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Hungary. The film, produced by “Story House Pictures GmbH,” deals with universal themes, following the life of Empress Elisabeth, her troubled love, questions of duty, freedom, and family, and the complex choices of a woman.
In the series, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic became the Hofburg Palace. For the shooting the show’s team had to hide various manifestations of modern life, e.g., they covered the windows of the Philharmonic and the ATM located nearby, and temporarily closed the nearby outdoor cafes. The shooting also took place on Aušros vartų Street and Jonas Basanavičius Square. Soldiers, crowds welcoming Sisi and Franz Joseph I, the rising rebellion, and the characters’ carriages zooming back and forth in the background of Vilnius were captured on camera in these locations.
Shooting at the Philharmonic will continue this winter – currently, the film “Weihnachten im Olymp” is being made for the German national broadcaster ZDF. The show will transport the audience to the Christmas period.
The story focuses on 9 people who stay overnight in the luxurious shopping mall “Olymp” after working hours on Christmas night. They all have their reasons for not returning home that night. The characters are all united by loneliness and the feeling of being misfits in our society or their own families. Misunderstood, disappointed, feeling awkward in their environment and society, longing for closeness and recognition – on Christmas night all these people unexpectedly find a festive mood, support, and love in each other’s company.
German actors Mariele Millowitsch and Joachim Kròl played the lead roles in the film, and the Lithuanian National Philharmonic happens to be one of the key locations: the building’s exterior will be transformed into the luxurious shopping mall “Olymp.” By the way, the audience will also see a Christmas train passing in front of the Philharmonic Hall on Aušros Street.
Filmmakers equally appreciate the Pasažas Square around the Lithuanian National Philharmonic. In 2023, shooting began in Vilnius for a series based on the Danish writer Peter Höeg’s best-selling novel “Miss Smila’s Feeling for Snow”. The series’ scenes were shot in various locations in the Lithuanian capital, and the Pasažas alleyway turned into the Copenhagen of the future.
Many more Lithuanian and foreign TV series and films e.g., “Tokyo Court”, “Truth and Conviction”, “Clark”, “Anna Karenina”, etc. were also shot in or near the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall.
