On Saturday, November 21st the French-Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce (Chamber de Commerce Franco-Lituanienne) will open the Christmas season in the Renaissance Hall of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.

For the second year in a row the “Diner de Gala avec Martell” will be held for the pleasure of 200 guests including top French and Lithuanian corporate executives, business partners, entrepreneurs from the two countries and the heads of public Institutions. Ambassador of France Philippe Jeantaud will give the opening speech.

The guests will be treated to some of the favorite dishes that the Lithuanian nobility traditionally served on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year, whereas dessert will be dedicated to the Epiphany. Lithuanian noble estate cuisine will be paired with the pride of France – its wine, “G. H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut“ and “G. H. Mumm Le Rose“ champagne and “Martell VSOP“ cognac.

One part of the evening music – while guests are arriving on the red carpet – will honor the duke of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, statesman, politician, diplomat, minister, patron and composer Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis. This year Lithuania is celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth. The biggest part of M.K. Oginiskis’s works is made up of piano pieces: polonaises, mazurkas, marches, minuets, waltzes as well as romances for voice and for the piano. His works were performed and played in Warsaw, Paris, Leipzig, Milan, St. Petersburg and other cities.

Ticket to the luxurious business and charity Gala dinner will be priced at EUR 150, including a charity donation of EUR 45. Money donated during the evening will be dedicated to a special purpose in the Palace of the Grand Dukes.

The hosts of the evening will be the actress Jurgita Jurkutė-Širvaitė and doctor of social sciences, celebrated writer and francophone Eugenijus Skerstonas. Those wishing to purchase tickets for this glamorous business evening should contact the Director of the French-Lithuanian Chamber of Commerce, Otilija Snieškaitė.