Masquerade by Rimas Tuminas, one of the most outstanding Lithuanian directors could be counted as one of the most successful interpretations ever of this Romantic play by Mikhail Lermontov. In this production of eerie beauty, filled with the sounds of a heady and nostalgic waltz by Aram Khachaturian, and with falling snow in an empty black space, you not only experience our times, but also the cultural heritage of the last century: drama by Brecht and Strehler, films by Fellini, and the flair of Broadway. Rimas Tuminas has revealed his very particular sensation of Romanticism in Masquerade, which is connected with commedia dell’arte. The elements of this genre turn an alluring view into a strange tragicomedy. The Independent noted that Tuminas’ concept unfolds the bitter tragedy of the play, which recalls both Othello and A Winter’s Tale, developing in a wild and turbulent world of snow, waltzing and elegant buffoonery. The magic of this production of Masquerade comes not from the charm of the masked ball; the acting, the direction, the set, all create a feast lasting only a few moments, and a permanent longing for it.