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The Telavi International Music Festival kicked off this past Sunday and featured performances by famous Georgian pianist Eliso Virsaladze, tenor Badri Maisuradze and the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra. The festival runs from October 16-23 in the town of Telavi in the Kakheti region of Georgia.
In addition to having a local Georgian flavor, Georgian as well as musicians from Germany, Israel, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, and Japan will perform their musical compositions at the festival. Among the international guests are Russian cellist Natalya Gutman, Swiss clarinetist Eduard Brunner, and Bulgarian violin player Mincho Minchev. The musicians will perform classical, folk and ethnic music, as well as opera pieces.
Thanks to the initiatives of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Eliso Virsaladze, the patronage of the first lady of Georgia Sandra Elizabeth Roelofs and the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection, the Telavi International Music Festival saw a rebirth in 2010, after being dormant for almost 20 years. It is Eliso Virsaladze in the 1980’s that founded the Telavi music festival – then known as “Keba Vazisa” (Praise of Vine).
“I was more nervous last year because I didn’t know if it would be a continuation of the old festival or not. This year I worked with a wonderful team. I trust them and I am not very nervous. But during the concert I am always under emotion,” said Virsaladze.
According to her, the festival program is very diverse. Aside from the famous compositions, the audience has the opportunity to enjoy new compositions, which have not been performed in Georgia thus far.
“The revival of this great tradition is especially important for Kakheti and the whole of Georgia, since it serves the high-art population, but also underscores the value of Telavi as one of the cultural centers of Georgia; [it] will also help to promote the centuries-old unique culture of our country”, said George Gviniashvili, Governor of Kakheti.
In addition to the festival performances, master classes are conducted at the Telavi School of Music.
According to Nikoloz Rurua, the Minister of Culture of Georgia, the Telavi festival makes a huge cultural contribution to a broad audience on the one hand and on the other hand, it provides critical knowledge and education via master classes both for Georgian and foreign students led by world famous teachers.
One day of the concerts, entitled “New Names”, aims to discover and promote young, gifted musicians from different countries.
People who are not able to go to Telavi, can follow the concert on the Internet. Caucasus Online, the general supporter of the festival, provides LIVE broadcasting from the Telavi State Drama Theatre where the concerts are being held.
The Telavi International Music Festival stays faithful to one of its most important missions: by dedicating one whole day to young, talented musicians from different countries.
Tbilisi City Hall, the Kakheti Region Governor Administration State Attorney, the National Tourism Agency, Hotel Rcheuli, TBC Bank, Socar Georgia, Viniveria and Alexandre Chavchavadze Tsinandali Museum are the organizers of the festival.
Nino Gelashvili 