Kanklės of Vilnius Society

Kanklės of Vilnius Society (kanklės is a Lithuanian folk instrument; Lithuanian: Vaidintojų, muzikantų ir dainuotojų draugija "Vilniaus kanklės") was a cultural society of Lithuanians active in Vilnius, then part of the Russian Empire, from 1905 to 1908. It was one of the first legal Lithuanian societies in Vilnius. It organized amateur theater performances, concerts and dances, and other cultural events. The society was chaired by Gabrielius Landsbergis-Žemkalnis who directed and staged its plays. The society was most active in 1906 when, among other plays, it staged the historical drama Pilėnų kunigaikštis (Duke of Pilėnai), two operettas by Mikas Petrauskas, and the first Lithuanian opera Birutė. However, due to internal disagreements and financial difficulties, the activities started to diminish in 1907 and the society become inactive in 1908. In its mission, Kanklės was succeeded by the more successful Rūta Society.

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